Hudson Valley's Haitian community concerned over Trump cuts to protections for Haitians in U.S.
The move puts the estimated 500,00 Haitians on track for deportation.
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The Hudson Valley Haitian community is concerned after the Trump administration's announcement that it's cutting protections for Haitians who live in the United States.
The move puts the estimated 500,00 Haitians on track for deportation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the announcement, which is part of President Donald Trump's sweeping crackdown on immigration.
The decision to cut the Temporary Protected Status program hits particularly hard in Spring Valley in Rockland County, home to one of the largest Haitian population in the country.
"A lot of the 500,000 Haitians who came through the Biden administration, TPS and or before since, of course, the earthquake in 2010 were looking for a better opportunity to make a living because back home was not stable," says Haitian immigrant Eudson Francois, a U.S. citizen who came to America 40 years ago.
TPS, aimed at shielding Haitian nationals from violent conditions or environmental disasters in their home country, will now expire in August.
The program had initially been extended through February of 2026 under the Biden administration.
"This is going to be devastating for most of the people, especially in Haiti, there's a lot of problems right now. There's gang-related stuff going on and it's very bad," says Haitian-born Mews Lesly, a successful business owner in Spring Valley.
The move by the Trump administration will also impact Venezuelans who live in the U.S. Their protected status is scheduled to end beginning in April.
