Update on Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Nationals

A federal district judge on Feb. 2 blocked the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals while a lawsuit challenging the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) order proceeds, NUCA reported on Feb. 3.

Haiti’s TPS status was initially activated in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake in that nation and has been extended multiple times. The country is also affected by ongoing violence and political instability that has displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens.

The Trump Administration has sought to remove the protection since last fall, which would make more people eligible for deportation. As reported earlier by NUCA, the protection was scheduled to end Feb. 3, 2026.

In addition to Haitians, DHS has terminated protections for about 600,000 Venezuelans, 60,000 from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal, more than 160,000 Ukrainians and thousands of people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. Some of these DHS termination orders also have pending lawsuits in federal courts.

As of today, Haitian nationals remain covered under the TPS program and are legally viable for employment in the United States. 

NUCA continues to urge the Administration to continue TPS protections for Haitian nationals. The American construction industry has legally employed many Haitians in infrastructure projects, especially those in certain states such as Florida and Ohio.

Abruptly terminating the legal working status of thousands of individuals will disrupt countless infrastructure projects and undermine the health of an industry which remains badly in need of skilled workers. 

NUCA will continue to provide updates on this important workforce issue to our members.

For more information about the DHS TPS change for Haitian nationals, go here.