Haitians face deportation if protected status disappears February 3
By: Hannan Adely
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... At least 330,000 Haitians in the United States stand to lose temporary protected status when it expires February 2, [2026] placing them at risk of deportation to a country facing political instability, gang violence and a humanitarian crisis.
.....
With the deadline just days away, a federal district court in New York was weighing whether to pause the termination of TPS for Haiti - a designation given when a country is deemed unsafe for return.
..... Haitians are not the only group gapping with changes to TPS.
..... The Department of Homeland Security wants to end TPS for numerous countries amid a broader effort by the Trump Administration to restrict illegal and legal immigration.
..... The program offers protection for periods of six, 12 or 18 months due to war, natural disaster or other extraordinary circumstances.
..... Designations have been repeatedly renewed for countries where dangerous conditions persist.
..... The Department of Homeland Security has declined to renew or tried to end TPS only for multiplet countries on grounds that they no longer meet criteria and that renewal would counter national interests.
..... "We are returning integrity to the TPS system, which has been abused and exploited by illegal aliens for decades. President Trump and Secretary Noem are retiring TPS to its original status: temporary," the agency set in a statement about Haiti last year. [2025]
..... Haiti was designated for TPS following a massive earthquake in 2010 and has since faced worsening crises due to political instability dire poverty., violence and displacement.
..... In March 2025, nearly 1.3 million people from 17 countries had TPS designation, according to a congressional report released last summer. [2025]
..... Today, [01/30/2026] DHS is fighting lawsuits across the country challenging TPS terminations. In some cases, judges have paused termination of the program and suspension of benefits pending outcome of a case.
..... Other have become effective despite ligation.
..... Here is where they stand as of January 30: [2026]
Already terminated (as of January 30, 2026)
* Afghanistan - Expired July 21, 2025: Lawsuit pending
* Burma (Myanmar) - terminated January 26, 2026; Lawsuit pending.
* Cameroon - Expired August 4, 2025;Lawsuit pending.
* Honduras - Expired August 5, 2025; Lawsuit pending.
* Nepal - Expired September 8, 2025; Lawsuit pending.
* South Sudan - Expired January 5, 2026; Lawsuit pending.
* Venezuela - Multiple expiration dates in 2025 and 2026. See DHS for more. A federal rappels court ruled January 29 [2026] that DHS exceeded authority ending TPS. Earlier Supreme Court orders, most recently in October, [2025] allows the February [2026] termination of TPS for Venezuela to remain in effect while the case is considered.