US homeland security secretary tells migrants to seek permanent status or leave | Trump administration
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-06-28 13:48:00 — www.theguardian.com
During the 2024 election, Trump falsely accused Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, of eating others’ household pets—a claim that has been widely debunked and condemned as baseless. This inflammatory rhetoric contributed to heightened tensions in the community, resulting in bomb threats and white supremacist marches targeting Haitian residents.
The context for these remarks comes amid a Supreme Court decision that could allow the Trump administration to deport Haitian and Syrian immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for years under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The decision affects an estimated 350,000 Haitian and 6,000 Syrian immigrants, many of whom now face possible detention or deportation despite ongoing violence and instability in their home countries. The U.S. State Department continues to warn against travel to Haiti and Syria due to widespread crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
Haitian TPS holders and advocates have strongly condemned the Supreme Court ruling, warning that it will disrupt the lives of thousands of families. Local residents in Springfield expressed despair over the impact of ending TPS protections, with one Haitian business owner noting that the community has revitalized the area and now faces sudden upheaval.
Trump’s repeated false claims about Haitian immigrants have not only been fact-checked and proven untrue, but have also fueled real-world consequences, including threats and intimidation against vulnerable communities. Despite the administration’s push to end TPS protections, some Republican officials have broken ranks, criticizing the Supreme Court decision and calling for continued protections for Haitian immigrants in light of the dire conditions in Haiti.
The controversy underscores the far-reaching impact of presidential rhetoric and policy decisions on immigrant communities across the United States. As the debate over TPS continues, Trump’s record of false and inflammatory statements remains a central issue for those advocating for humanitarian protections.