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Until recently, Haiti was among a number of countries whose immigrants have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), protecting their right to remain in the United States due to unsafe conditions in their country of origin.
The United States, however, announced an end to TPS for Haitians as of February 3 — a move which would affect more than 350,000 Haitians currently in the U.S.
The immigrants were granted a temporary reprieve: A federal judge blocked the termination decision while a lawsuit challenging it is in progress.
In the midst of the flurry, U.S. Catholic bishops spoke out asking the administration to grant a reprieve. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committees on Migration and International Justice and Peace issued a statement that included the following:
We are deeply concerned about the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters living in the United States. There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time.
“Deporting means condemning to death”
Reports indicate ongoing dangerous conditions in Haiti. This week, four Haitian women, recently deported from Puerto Rico, were found brutally beheaded.
The victims, Haitian nationals aged between 27 and 31, had arrived in Puerto Rico by boat in December 2024 but were deported following immigration enforcement actions.
Leonard Prophil, a Haitian community leader, said, “Deporting these people means condemning them to death.” He called for alternatives to deportation amid Haiti's severe gang violence and humanitarian crisis.
The Catholic Church is often a target in Haiti, as when six nuns were kidnapped earlier this year.
Many areas of the capital and the island remain under the control of violent gangs. One of their notable tactics of control is sexual violence, particularly gang rape.
Bishops defend Haitian community
In the U.S., Haitian immigrants have been targeted with criticism, such as the unfounded claim that they “eat pets,” repeated by the U.S. president and vice president.
But as immigrants seek a safe haven from the brutal violence and danger in Haiti, a number of bishops have spoken up in their defense.
The bishops affirmed solidarity with the Haitian immigrant community and emphasized that all people deserve to be treated with dignity, calling for compassion and prayers.
Ten bishops from Ohio issued a statement in September, which read in part:
Like all people, these Haitians should be afforded the respect and dignity that are theirs by right and allowed the ability to contribute to the common good… We exhort the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill not to perpetuate ill will toward anyone involved based on unfounded gossip.
Bishops call attention to economic impact
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago echoed the USCCB conclusion. He is among the bishops who pointed out the many ways Haitian immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy:
But there are also economic consequences for the United States, as these people, like all immigrant groups, are deeply integrated into the American workforce, particularly in essential sectors.
For instance, in Florida, Haitian workers make up 20% of the staff in nursing homes and retirement communities. Terminating their status creates immediate labor shortages in elder care.
Haitians with TPS contribute nearly $6 billion annually to the U.S. gross domestic product and pay over $1.5 billion in taxes.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami also sounded an alarm about the economic consequences of deportation.
Miami is a primary hub for Haitian immigrants, with roughly 40% of the entire Haitian migrant community in America living in the surrounding area.
Speaking about the temporary reprieve, Archbishop Wenski told NBC Miami:
Well at this point, we’re breathing a sigh of relief because our employees can continue working, for them and for us.
Wenski’s archdiocese, including Catholic Health Services, employs about 150 Haitian workers who have TPS. He also said:
The ruling is a welcome reprieve. But it’s not the end of the fight because what is given can be taken away by a higher court.
Had this gone through, there would’ve been an immediate negative impact on the economy of South Florida. There’s no supply of people waiting to take their jobs.
