Catholic Bishops Ask Trump to Halt Large-Scale Deportations of Haitians
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is asking President Donald Trump to stop large-scale deportations of Haitians and consider a separate presidential protection known as deferred enforced departure.
In a September 8, 2026, letter addressed directly to Trump, Coakley said Haiti does not currently have an adequate system for the safe and orderly reception and reintegration of people returned from the United States. The letter cited what it described as a recent Port-au-Prince attack in which at least 47 people were killed, more than 20 were injured and more than 50 were kidnapped.
Those casualty figures come from Coakley’s letter. The appeal itself is a request, not a new administration policy: it does not show that Trump has halted deportations or granted deferred enforced departure.
What the bishops are asking for
Coakley asked the administration to provide deferred enforced departure for Haitians who are peacefully residing in the United States. He also acknowledged that individual Haitians could be excluded on a case-by-case basis for public-safety concerns or other disqualifying grounds.
Deferred enforced departure is a discretionary protection a president may provide to people from a designated country. It can delay removal and may support work authorization under related federal procedures, but it is distinct from Temporary Protected Status and would not restore Haiti’s TPS designation.
The bishops’ request follows a June 26 statement from the USCCB urging the administration to consider deferred enforced departure even if Haiti’s TPS designation was not continued. That statement also called for congressional action.
Why the request comes now
Haiti’s TPS designation ended at 11:59 p.m. local time on February 3, 2026, under a November 28, 2025, Federal Register notice. TPS had allowed eligible Haitian nationals who met the program’s requirements to remain temporarily in the United States and obtain work authorization because of conditions in Haiti.
On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to proceed with ending TPS protections for Haitians and Syrians while litigation continued. The action was not a ruling on the merits of whether Haiti is safe for return.
After a country’s TPS designation ends, beneficiaries generally return to the immigration status or category they held before TPS, if that status remains valid, or to another status they lawfully obtained while registered for TPS. The change does not mean every Haitian in the United States held TPS or faces deportation. Immigration consequences depend on each person’s status and case.
Faith communities under strain
Haitian churches have become important sources of worship, legal information, caregiving and practical support as families assess their options. Associated Press reporting from Salisbury, Maryland, described canceled activities, reduced church attendance and fear of immigration enforcement after TPS protections ended. That report illustrates pressure on one local institution; it does not establish conditions in every Haitian faith community nationwide.
The uncertainty can be especially difficult for mixed-status families. A U.S.-citizen relative may remain in the country while a Haitian family member faces a separate immigration proceeding or loses employment authorization tied to a previous status.
Coakley’s letter also pointed to the broader consequences of removals for families and communities, including Haitians who have lived and worked in the United States for years and those employed in critical fields such as health care. The bishops argue that returning people to conditions marked by violence could endanger innocent life and worsen Haiti’s crisis.
What to watch next
The next significant signals will be any response from the White House or the Department of Homeland Security, congressional action and evidence about how immigration enforcement is being carried out. For now, the documented development is the bishops’ direct appeal—not a confirmed change in deportation policy.
Key sources
- Archbishop Coakley’s September 8 letter to President Trump
- Federal Register notice ending Haiti’s TPS designation
- Religion News Service report on the bishops’ appeal
- Associated Press reporting from Salisbury, Maryland
Look for updates to this story
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.