FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2025 | Miami, FL

The Trump Administration hopes to trigger a mass exodus of Haitian immigrants granted safe haven by ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and the Advance Parole Program launched by the Biden Administration. Together these two legal programs provided relief and protection from violent harm to some 700,000 Haitian nationals, as Haiti descended into chaos in the last few years. They are a lifeline to relatives in Haiti, some of whom have joined the growing ranks of the internally displaced as criminal gangs loot and burn homes, clinics, hospitals, schools and businesses while randomly killing their neighbors.

As Americans of Haitian descent, we believe that ending TPS for Haitians is not in the U.S. national interest. Therefore, we urge the Administration to reconsider its decision and to continue providing safe haven while increasing its support of Haitian and international efforts to vanquish the criminal gangs that are transforming Haiti into a wasteland.

We also urge members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to appeal to the Administration for a reprieve. This past week, the State Department urged US citizens in Haiti to leave immediately because of the violence and the worsening socio-economic and political situation. Yet Haiti has been virtually cut off from the rest of the world, as commercial flights no longer service its main international airport in Port-au-Prince, the nation's capital. The UN's International Organization for Migration estimates the number of internally displaced to about 1.2 million people. Forcibly returning close to 1 million Haitian nationals is a recipe for greater chaos in Haiti and throughout the region. The U.S. and its allies should focus on strengthening support to the government of Haiti and to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), while increasing humanitarian aid to the people most in need. 

Contact Information

Jocelyn McCalla | Executive Director | (917) 485-8129 | jmccalla@haffd.org

About Haitian-American Foundation for Democracy

The Haitian-American Foundation for Democracy is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting democracy, human rights, and social justice in Haiti and among the Haitian-American community. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, the Foundation works to empower individuals and communities to create positive change.