NATION — President Donald Trump has moved to end immigration programs that allowed Haitians to live and work legally in the United States. The policy shift could affect up to 500,000 Haitians, many of whom are already losing jobs and facing deportation.
About 80 Haitian workers at the American Food Group’s meatpacking plant in Long Prairie, Minnesota, were recently laid off after their work permits were revoked, according to the Sahan Journal. The plant employs workers from many countries, but union leaders say the impact has been especially severe on the Haitian community.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in June that it was ending humanitarian parole for Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, a move that immediately canceled many work permits. The following month, DHS also attempted to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 500,000 Haitians nationwide. A federal judge blocked that decision after a lawsuit, but TPS protections are only guaranteed until February 2026 while the case moves through appeals.
Community advocates say the sudden loss of work authorization has created major hardship. David Policard, who leads the Haitian nonprofit Vanse, recently organized a legal clinic in Minnesota where families sought advice on asylum, residency, and other visa options. He said many have already been forced out of jobs this summer, while others are preparing to return to Haiti with limited resources.
The union representing meatpacking workers said employers must follow federal rules, even if that means laying off long-term employees. While some Haitians may qualify to reapply for TPS, many do not have a clear path to remain in the country legally.
Policard noted that organizations are working to connect unemployed Haitians to services and new jobs, but most families do not qualify for public assistance. With few options available, many in the Haitian community remain uncertain about their future in the United States as Trump’s immigration policies continue to take effect.
