Federal immigration enforcement operations targeting former Temporary Protected Status holders are underway across the United States, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, creating widespread fear and confusion in Haitian communities weeks after the Supreme Court cleared the way to end protections for roughly 350,000 people.
Deportation Enforcement Operations Target Former TPS Holders
Federal authorities have started active enforcement operations targeting former Temporary Protected Status holders following a lower court judge’s legal steps finalizing the termination of the program. According to two sources with knowledge of the operations who spoke to CNN, enforcement kicked up in late July and remains ongoing. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the push during a Tuesday appearance on NewsNation, stating that operations are actively underway. “We’re going after them right now. These individuals can either self-deport, or we will arrest you and send you back. It’s that simple,” Mullin said.
Federal authorities remain tight-lipped about specific operational details, declining to discuss ongoing actions or release exact figures on detentions. However, advocacy groups report an immediate impact on the ground. Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, stated that at least five people contacted her organization last week to report loved ones detained in Arizona, California, Indiana, and Maryland. Many of those detained were driving when they crossed paths with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to Jozef. “The fear is that the numbers will increase,” Jozef said. “Enforcement always happens, even when we don’t hear it on the news. It is happening on a daily basis within the community.”
Department of Homeland Security Issues Tracking Notices and Ankle Monitors
In communities like Springfield, Ohio—where roughly 15,000 Haitian residents live—the anticipated surge of visible street-level arrests has not yet materialized, according to local leaders. Instead, hundreds of Department of Homeland Security letters have arrived in mailboxes across the Midwestern city. Vilès Dorsainvil, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center, shared copies of notices instructing recipients to report to designated offices for an official matter. According to Dorsainvil, individuals who report to these ICE offices are outfitted with “alternatives to detention” ankle monitors and assigned court dates roughly a month away.
The use of electronic monitoring devices has generated acute psychological pressure within the community. Dorsainvil noted that the tracking hardware evokes painful historical associations with slavery shackles. Marjory Wentworth, a board member of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center and an advocate with the faith-based organization G92, described receiving a panicked text message from a friend whose teenage daughter fears ICE will arrest her father. Responding to inquiries about the notices and ankle monitors, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson defended the measures, telling CNN that TPS was designed to be temporary and pointing to the administration’s self-deportation program, which offers a $2,600 check and a free flight home. “The good news is it’s not too late to get a $2,600 check and a free flight home,” the spokesperson said.
Healthcare and Workforce Disruptions Hit US Employers
The abrupt termination of work permits has triggered immediate operational crises for businesses heavily reliant on Haitian labor. Rebecca Shi, executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, reported that member organizations in manufacturing, healthcare, elder care, construction, agriculture, and hospitality have sustained devastating staff losses. Shi cited two specific members severely impacted: a Florida resort hotel that lost more than 150 workers and a Massachusetts senior center that lost upwards of 50 employees.
These departures are rippling across critical infrastructure sectors. According to Shi, nursing homes are actively considering closing wings because staff shortages leave remaining workers overburdened. In Boston, a 29-year-old nurse with eight years of experience at a top hospital was forced to take a leave of absence last week after her work permit expired. Speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, the nurse explained that returning to Haiti—where gang violence, infrastructural destruction, and economic collapse persist following the 2010 earthquake—is impossible. “They’re losing a lot of us—a lot of people like me,” she said. “We’re willing to work. We’re ready. We work very hard, and it feels like we’re not needed, we’re not valued.”
Did you know?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allowed people to work legally in the United States for years as part of the program.
Community Shutdown and Economic Slowdown in Major Enclaves
Across established Haitian neighborhoods, fear of detention has driven residents indoors, depressing local commerce and daily life. In Salisbury, Maryland, Dr. Marie D. Fouché, founder and executive director of Safe Harbor Circles, described a climate of severe apprehension. “They’ve been arresting people left and right—some people in the middle of the streets. We have people who went to the grocery store to cook for their kids and didn’t return home,” Fouché said. The crackdown has forced many residents into hiding, leaving community support groups scrambling to field distress calls.
A similar quiet has settled over New York City’s Haitian neighborhoods. David Duchatellier, who operates a travel and money transfer agency in Cambria Heights, reported a steep drop in business. “You don’t see people walking around as they used to. They’re staying inside because they’re not working. They’re not going to the supermarket to buy food. And that’s affecting the economy, big time,” Duchatellier said. In Brooklyn’s Little Haiti, paralegal Judith Polidor described fielding an overwhelming volume of calls from distressed community members. “It’s sadness all day. They are crying. Everybody has an emergency. They need somebody just to listen, even though you cannot do nothing,” Polidor said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians?
Temporary Protected Status allowed eligible Haitian nationals to live and work legally in the United States. The Supreme Court cleared the administration to end protections for roughly 350,000 individuals.
Are ICE arrests of former TPS holders currently happening?
Yes. According to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and immigrant advocacy groups like the Haitian Bridge Alliance, federal enforcement operations targeting former Haitian TPS holders are active, with reported detentions across multiple states including Arizona, California, Indiana, and Maryland.
What options do former TPS holders have regarding deportation?
Federal officials have stated that former TPS holders can either self-deport or face arrest and removal. The administration’s self-deportation program offers qualifying individuals a $2,600 check and a flight home.
How is the end of TPS affecting US businesses?
Industries relying heavily on Haitian workers—such as healthcare, elder care, hospitality, and manufacturing—are facing severe staffing shortages. According to the American Business Immigration Coalition, some nursing facilities are weighing closing wings due to burnout and a lack of personnel.
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