In Florida, a 29-year-old pregnant woman is in hiding, worried about the possibility of deportation. She is one of the more than 300,000 Haitian nationals who previously held Temporary Protective Status (TPS). The Trump administration ended this program earlier this week, citing improved conditions in Haiti.
Before the expiration of TPS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement planned to increase efforts to arrest and deport Haitian migrants. Two ICE sources and federal documents revealed these plans to CBS News.
The woman, who arrived in the United States at the age of six, has no family in Haiti. The TPS program initially protected Haitians escaping violence in their country. Despite this, the program has ceased, even as the State Department warned Americans against traveling to Haiti. A recent United Nations report highlighted 613 gang-related killings in Haiti between March and July. Basic services in areas affected by violence have been suspended.
Florida hosts some of the largest Haitian communities in the United States. In Miami’s Little Haiti, formerly vibrant streets are now desolate. The area reflects the fear and uncertainty felt by many.
The woman expressed concerns about her future if deported to Haiti. Although TPS is temporary by definition, she argues that anyone seeking legal status in the U.S. must undergo a temporary process. As her TPS expired, she lost her job and now faces losing her health insurance. Her pregnancy requires weekly medical appointments, but she is unsure how to afford them. While her partner is a U.S. citizen and her child will be an American citizen, she feels deeply connected to the U.S. after spending most of her life there.
For now, she remains in seclusion. She ventures out only for urgent medical needs, a practice she may soon end. Little Haiti appears empty, an indication of the broader impact of ending TPS for Haitian nationals.
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