Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Status for Haitian Nationals Ending Feb. 3
In a Jan. 30 email to members, NUCA announced the Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationas is ending Feb. 3. Below is the text of the email:
NUCA members in Ohio, Florida, and other U.S. states should note that the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) TPS status for Haitian nationals has been terminated, with its immigration and employment benefits no longer in effect starting at 11:59 p.m. on February 3, 2026.
This decision was made by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who concluded that Haiti no longer meets the qualifications for TPS. The Department of Homeland Security announced in late 2025 that it would terminate Haiti’s TPS designation, concluding that Haiti no longer meets the qualifications for the program and that allowing Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is “contrary to the national interest.” TPS is a form of humanitarian relief that allows nationals of designated countries to live and work in the United States when their home countries are experiencing conditions that make safe return impossible.
A federal appeals court ruled Jan. 28 that Sec. Noem acted unlawfully when she lifted deportation protections for Haitian and Venezuelan nationals and wrote she must follow the regulatory process for removing TPS protections. Another federal judge in Washington, D.C. is expected to rule soon on a request to pause this termination while a lawsuit proceeds to permanently halt this change.
Unless a final federal court places a definite hold on this status termination, employers who have Haitian nationals on their payroll that are in the United States under the TPS program should take appropriate steps to remain in compliance with federal immigration laws. Haitian TPS holders should begin planning for possible changes including checking eligibility for other immigration options or seeking legal assistance.
NUCA has serious concerns about the abrupt termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals who are legally present in the United States. This sudden change creates an unnecessary and difficult situation for employers and their Haitian employees who hold valid work authorization. The decision will disrupt ongoing projects and operations, particularly in states such as Florida and Ohio, where large numbers of Haitian nationals reside and work. Haiti continues to face significant instability, and Haitian nationals who are gainfully employed in the United States remain safely removed from the country’s ongoing conflict and dangers. NUCA strongly urges the Administration to reverse this decision and reinstate TPS protections for Haitian nationals. We will continue to closely monitor developments in this matter.
For more information about the DHS TPS change for Haitian nationals, go here.
