Washington: As over 300,000 Haitian nationals in the United States face the imminent expiration of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on February 3, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called on the Trump Administration to act with justice and compassion, urging an extension of their legal protections.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Bishops emphasized the humanitarian and security risks that would accompany the forced return of Haitians to their homeland. “There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time,” the statement read.
Haiti has been engulfed in a spiral of violence and lawlessness, with organized crime gangs exerting control over large portions of Port-au-Prince. The US Department of State maintains a Level 4 travel advisory for the country, citing threats including kidnapping, civil unrest, and terrorist activity. Flights from the United States to the Haitian capital are currently prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration, further highlighting the dangers facing returnees.
The Bishops, led by Bishop Brendan Cahill, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, expressed deep concern for Haitian residents whose legal status and work authorization will be revoked due to the TPS termination.
While acknowledging that TPS is, by definition, temporary, the Bishops underscored the urgent need for a humane response from the federal government. “Congress has not yet provided durable solutions for longtime residents under TPS,” they noted, “leaving the executive branch the responsibility to act in a just and merciful way.”
“The Trump Administration still has the opportunity to safeguard human life, uphold the law, and promote stability for people both in the United States and abroad,” the Bishops said, urging that the extension of TPS for Haitians be enacted immediately to prevent further humanitarian suffering.
The US Bishops reaffirmed the Church’s solidarity with Haitians both domestically and abroad, invoking Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the patroness of Haiti, as a source of comfort and strength. “May she watch over and protect the Haitian people in their trials,” the statement concluded.
Compounding the urgency of their appeal, humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders have reported alarming levels of sexual and gender-based violence in Haiti. Over the past four years, the number of people seeking treatment for sexual assault in Port-au-Prince has tripled, with cases often involving multiple perpetrators. According to recent reports, some attacks involved 10 or more assailants, with an average of three per case. Experts note that gang-controlled areas, which now comprise roughly 90 percent of the capital, use sexual violence as a tool to instill fear and maintain dominance.
The Bishops’ appeal highlights the intersection of faith, justice, and human rights, urging policymakers to recognize the humanitarian crisis facing Haitians in both Haiti and the United States, and to act promptly to protect vulnerable populations.