Caribbean Legislators Condemn Trump’s Decision to Revoke TPS for Haitians

NEW YORK, New York – Caribbean legislators and immigration advocates in the United States on Friday strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, and urged the administration to reverse the cruel and shortsighted decision.

New York State Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the Haitian-born representative for the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the decision is not only inhumane but reckless, “as it forces thousands of hardworking families into uncertainty and potential danger”.

“Haiti is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. With gangs controlling large parts of the country, including the capital, and with no functioning government to address the violence and instability, sending individuals back to these conditions is irresponsible and dangerous.

“It is also crucial to recognize the US government’s historical role in Haiti’s current turmoil,” added Narcisse, a registered nurse by training. “From economic interventions to political destabilization, the impact of American actions has contributed to the chaos in Haiti.”

She further charged that abandoning those seeking refuge under TPS is a betrayal and a continuation of the “harmful legacy” of decades of policies that undermined Haiti’s sovereignty.

The legislator reminded that those granted TPS did not enter the US illegally and had sought refuge “through legal channels, following the rules, and were allowed to stay due to the extreme dangers they faced in their home country”.

“These families have made significant contributions to the United States, working in essential industries such as healthcare, construction and education,” she said. “Stripping them of their legal status is an attack on these hardworking individuals, parents, children, workers and neighbors, who have become vital contributors to our communities and economy.”

Narcisse said Trump’s decision will force Haitians into the shadows, destabilize their lives, and harm industries that rely on their labor.

“I urge the Trump administration to reconsider this dangerous decision,” she said. “We must stand with our Haitian brothers and sisters, who have endured enough, and ensure they are allowed to remain safe and continue contributing to the country they have made their home. Haitians deserve safety, dignity, and a chance to continue contributing to this great nation.”

New York State Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, said that by suddenly rescinding the prior Biden administration’s extension of Haiti’s TPS into 2026, Trump is cutting off a lifeline for Haitians facing a literal life-or-death situation.

“TPS is granted to US immigrants who can’t return to their countries because of violence, natural disasters or political upheaval – all of which Haiti sufferers from,” the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said. “Let’s be crystal clear: TPS does not provide a path to citizenship, and rescinding it for countries in need is a cruel, racially-motivated decision that violates countless human rights statutes.

“I join elected officials across the US and the globe in calling for immediate action to reinstate the TPS for Haiti and all other groups with similar protections, while exploring every legal avenue to save lives and keep our country a beacon of hope and humanity,” Bichotte Hermelyn added.

Caribbean-American congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, also joined the Haiti Caucus co-chairs in the US House of Representatives in condemning Trump’s decision.

Besides Clarke, the other co-chairs are Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida. Clarke is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“With Haiti continuing to grapple with unspeakable violence and a horrific humanitarian, political, and economic crisis, this is a shameful decision that could be a death sentence for more than 500 000 Haitian nationals living in the United States,” said the co-chairs of the House Haiti Caucus in a joint statement. “Haitians who have lived in the United States for up to 15 years, raised children, started businesses, and contributed to their communities are at risk of deportation for no reason other than being Haitian.

“We should be doing everything possible to save lives and bring stability and safety to Haiti—not throwing vulnerable people in harm’s way,” they added. “We urge the Trump administration to immediately reverse this cruel and callous decision.”

The San Diego, California-based immigrant advocacy group, Haitian Bridge Alliance, also urged the Trump administration to immediately reverse its decision in August – six months earlier than the previously designated expiration date of February 2026.

“This decision threatens to uproot families, destabilize communities, undermine the American economy, and force deportations to a country in crisis,” it said, adding that “Haiti is currently experiencing one of its worst humanitarian and security crises in modern history.”

Alluding to data from the United Nations, the Haitian Bridge Alliance said nearly 5.5 million people—almost half of Haiti’s population—require humanitarian assistance.

“Widespread gang violence, political instability, and economic collapse have led to mass displacement, with nearly one million people internally displaced and thousands unable to access basic necessities such as food, water, and healthcare,” it said. “Given these dire conditions, forcing Haitian TPS holders to return is not only inhumane but also a violation of international human rights obligations,” it said. “The US government has long recognised that conditions in Haiti remain too dangerous for mass deportations.”

Beyond the humanitarian impact, the Haitian Bridge Alliance added, terminating TPS early would be an economic disaster for the United States.

“Haitian TPS and other TPS holders from Salvador, Honduras are integral to industries such as healthcare, construction, and hospitality, contributing over US$4.3 billion in GDP annually,” it added.

On Thursday, Caribbean immigration advocates in New York also condemned Trump’s decision on TPS for Haitians.