In a move to reinforce border security and prioritize the removal of individuals with criminal records who entered the U.S. illegally, the Trump administration has rescinded the Biden administration's extension of deportation protections for Haitian migrants. This decision paves the way for their earlier removal from the country.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the reversal of the Biden administration's 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals, granted in June of the previous year. Noem emphasized the administration's commitment to restoring the “temporary” nature of TPS.

The revocation means that TPS protections for Haitians will now expire in August instead of February 2026. TPS offers protection from deportation and work permits to individuals residing in the U.S. from nations deemed unsafe for their return. Republicans have historically expressed concerns about the program's scope, arguing its application has become overly broad, encompassing 17 designated countries by the end of the Biden administration.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that TPS has been subject to “exploitation and abuse,” highlighting Haiti's designation for TPS since 2010. Over 520,000 Haitians were estimated to be eligible for TPS protection as of July. A DHS spokesperson criticized the Biden administration’s extension as excessively long and an attempt to restrict the Trump administration's actions.

Haitian migration became a focal point in 2024, with the Trump campaign highlighting the significant influx of Haitian migrants under parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV), which permitted 30,000 migrants per month. Under this program, eligible individuals could remain in the U.S. even after their parole expired due to TPS. This impacted numerous communities, including Springfield, Ohio, and Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

This TPS decision follows Noem's earlier revocation of a TPS extension for Venezuelan migrants and the subsequent revocation of TPS status for 300,000 Venezuelan nationals. The administration has also significantly curtailed the use of parole to grant entry to migrants, with President Trump halting the use of the CBP One app for migrant entry at ports of entry and ending the CHNV program. Citing national security and fraud concerns, the administration recently suspended applications for CHNV and two other parole programs.