Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to expedite deportations of Haitian immigrants as their temporary protected status (TPS) expires. CBS News reported that ICE is preparing to increase operations targeting Haitians, with plans to arrest and deport individuals as soon as possible. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended TPS for over 500,000 Haitians last summer, a decision that was upheld by the Supreme Court last month, allowing the termination of protections to take effect.
Operations are expected to begin shortly after the TPS deadline, with Springfield, Ohio identified as a key location for enforcement actions. In a statement, DHS did not confirm specific plans but indicated to Haitian migrants that they should prepare to leave the U.S. The agency stated, "What we would say now is it’s closing time which means you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here."
TPS allows eligible refugees to obtain work permits and remain in the U.S. without fear of deportation until conditions in their home countries improve. The U.S. currently designates TPS for 17 countries, including Haiti, which received the designation following the 2010 earthquake. Haiti has faced ongoing instability, with significant power held by gangs in the capital, Port-au-Prince, as noted by the United Nations.