Eliminating TPS would be a “death sentence” for Haitians, warns Human Rights Watch
Organization warns that thousands of Haitians would face serious risks and key sectors would lose labor
The deportation of Haitians due to the US Supreme Court ruling against Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be a “death sentence” and will damage the economy, especially that of Florida, where this community contributes $2.6 billion annually, warned a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) this Thursday.
The report, based on interviews with 40 Haitians with TPS in Miami and 15 representatives of community organizations, found “a widespread fear” of deportations to the Caribbean country, where there were more than 8,200 murders from January 2025 to March 2026, and criminal groups control 90% of Port-au-Prince.
"Losing TPS would be like a death sentence. If they deport me to Haiti, people will think that I have money because I lived abroad. They will try to extort me or kidnap me. And since I have no money or savings to pay, they will kill me," said a 28-year-old Haitian in the investigation.
HRW warns of humanitarian risks and economic losses
HRW attributed the Supreme Court ruling, which last week allowed Donald Trump's Administration to revoke the TPS that protected nearly 350,000 Haitians from deportation, for leaving these people in danger of returning to a "country mired in violence and a humanitarian crisis."
Although the Trump Administration has argued that conditions in Haiti have improved, the report cited that there are 1.5 million internally displaced people, half of them children, and 5.83 million people, 52% of the population, in acute food insecurity, “the highest level ever recorded.”
“Without TPS protections, Haitians risk being sent back to one of the world's most devastating human rights crises,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at HRW.
Following the Supreme Court ruling and the subsequent expiration of protections this month, Goebertus urged Congress to “act quickly to preserve TPS protections for Haitians.”
The investigation also warned about the effects for Florida, where nearly 158,000 Haitian TPS beneficiaries live, who work in sectors such as health, care for the elderly, construction, tourism and hospitality.
According to figures from FWD.us, TPS recipients generate $2.6 billion annually for Florida's economy, including nearly $1.5 billion in the Miami metropolitan area alone.
The Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center organization warned that the consequences of eliminating the program will also impact businesses, schools and communities that depend on this workforce.