Haitians in limbo over Trump effort to end legal status in U.S. for many

Rep. Mike Lawler greets Pastor Nate Demosthene, Pastor of First Timothy Christian Church in Spring Valley, New York, and other clergy members, before a news conference at the church July 10, 2025, calling for an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.

Dutan Pierre of Spring Valley cries while sitting in his attorney's office July 2, 2025, nearly a month after his son Alan, 20, was arrested by ICE officers, though he was in the United States legally.

Dutan Pierre of Spring Valley, New York, holds his phone containing a photo of his son Alan, 20, July 2, 2025, who was arrested by ICE officers on June 3. Alan had arrived from Haiti several months earlier, was in the country legally and had enrolled in high school.

Merchants carry their wares through the city center in Port-au-Prince on July 21, 2025.

A merchant carries his wares though downtown Port-au-Prince on July 21, 2025.

A merchant sell fruit in downtown Port-au-Prince on July 21, 2025.

A woman cleans the street in the city center of Port-au-Prince on July 21, 2025.

A Haitian police officer checks a man's papers as they patrol in Kenscoff, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, on August 7, 2025, after two of their armored personnel carriers in the area were damaged overnight.

Haitian police officers patrol near one of their armored personnel carriers, which was damaged overnight in Kenscoff, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, on August 7, 2025. At least 3,141 people were killed in the first half of this year by gang violence.

A couple of hundred people attended the first annual Manasota Haitian Flag Day Festival held in Palmetto, Florida's Sutton Park, in May 2025.

Club Kreyol dancers brought the island spirit and contemporary grooves to the Experience the Culture of Haiti Festival in 2024.