Florida GOP nominee says he's coordinating with Haiti's transitional authorities as TPS lapses
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds said he has met with Haiti's transitional government and ambassador to discuss security efforts, claiming the country has regained partial control from gangs. His comments follow the Supreme Court's decision allowing the Trump administration to end temporary protected status for over 300,000 Haitians, including many in Florida. Donalds argued the program was never meant to be permanent and that ending it encourages repatriation and stability.
Donalds’s remarks come as the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling cleared the way for the administration to end protections first granted after Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. The congressman cited ongoing security cooperation, including meetings with Haiti’s transitional government and ambassador, and estimated that gangs now control roughly half to three-quarters of the country. Florida hosts about 158,000 Haitian TPS holders, who contribute $2.6 billion annually to the state economy, with many employed in agriculture, security, and nursing. The State Department continues to warn against travel to Haiti due to crime, kidnapping, and limited healthcare.
The end of TPS for over 300,000 Haitians could create significant economic and social strain in Florida, where many holders work in essential sectors. Families may face deportation or uncertain legal status, potentially disrupting communities and labor markets. Donalds’s framing suggests repatriation as a path to stability, but the actual security situation in Haiti remains fragile, meaning forced returns could expose individuals to danger. The ruling may also influence future immigration policy debates, as courts defer more to executive authority on such designations.