Former President Donald Trump has further escalated his anti-immigratoin rhetoric suggesting he would revoke the immigration status Haitian migrants legally living in Ohio if reelected. In a recent interview with NewsNation in Houston, Texas, Trump specifically targeted the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which currently allows thousands of Haitian migrants to live legally in the U.S.
"In my opinion, it's not legal. It's not legal for anybody to do," Trump said, referring to the TPS program. He went on to say he would revoke the status of Haitian immigrants to "bring them back to their country."
TPS is a federal program that grants temporary legal status to migrants from countries facing unsafe conditions, such as natural disasters or conflicts. Haitians have been part of this program since January 2010, following a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that killed approximately 220,000 people. The program allows them to legally live and work in the U.S., with participants required to re-register each year with the Department of Homeland Security. In June, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extended TPS for Haitian migrants until February 2026.
However, if Trump effectively seeks to end the protections, he will likely face significant legal challenges similar to those his previous administration encountered.
During his presidency, Trump sought to end TPS for approximately 400,000 migrants from several countries, including Haiti, Nepal, and El Salvador. This move was met with immediate legal pushback, and a federal judge ultimately halted the plan. The program remained entangled in litigation until the Biden administration expanded TPS protections, effectively undoing Trump's previous efforts.
Beyond TPS, Trump has also made inflammatory comments regarding Haitian immigrants in Ohio, specifically in the town of Springfield. He claimed during the presidential debate with Kamala Harris that the influx of migrants was harming the community ,including false claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets and exaggerated numbers regarding the local migrant population. According to Trump, Springfield saw over 30,000 migrants arrive, though city officials have stated the number is closer to 12,000 to 15,000 across the entire county, according to Axios.
Trump added that the presence of Haitian migrants was detrimental to the town. "The community is so nice, and they want to be so politically correct," Trump said. "You cannot destroy — we cannot destroy our country. You had a beautiful, safe community... everything was nice."
In response to Trump's comments, a Haitian organization in Ohio filed criminal charges against him and his running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), accusing them of spreading baseless claims that have harmed the Haitian community.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
