Ohio’s GOP governor said it’s ‘absurd’ to call Haiti safe, experts agree
PolitiFact – Rulings and Stories — 2026-06-29 17:03:00 — www.politifact.com
Trump’s False Claims About Haitian Immigrants and Safety Contradict U.S. Warnings
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians can end, Trump administration officials asserted that it is safe for Haitians to return to their country. This position comes despite the State Department’s highest-level travel warning, which urges, “Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest,” and describes violent crime as “rampant.”
Trump’s Position and Falsehoods
Ending TPS for Haitians aligns with Trump’s campaign promise. In 2024, Trump spread the falsehood that Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating people’s pets—a claim that has been widely debunked and labeled as a lie by fact-checkers.
Contradicting U.S. Government Warnings
Despite the State Department’s Level 4 warning, Trump administration officials have continued to insist that Haitians can safely return. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told CNN that the advisory is for “American citizens traveling to Haiti, not Haitians going back home.” Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, claimed, “For Haitians? Absolutely,” when asked if Haiti is safe, and compared crime in Haiti to “pockets” of higher crime in U.S. cities.
These claims have been rejected by experts and officials familiar with conditions in Haiti. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who has experience working in Haiti, called the assertion that it is safe to return “absurd.”
Reality in Haiti
Experts describe Haiti as deeply unsafe, with ongoing gang violence, political instability, and a collapse of basic services. Over 6 million people need humanitarian aid, and armed groups control much of the capital. The United Nations reports that more than 2,300 people have been killed by gang violence this year alone, and 1.5 million Haitians have fled their homes in recent years.
For Haitians with TPS, returning would mean facing additional risks, including being targeted for kidnapping and extortion because they are perceived as having money.
Conclusion
Trump’s false claims about Haitians and the safety of returning to Haiti are contradicted by both U.S. government warnings and on-the-ground realities. The spread of misinformation—such as the debunked claim about Haitians eating pets—further stigmatizes vulnerable communities and ignores the severe dangers they face if forced to return. As the administration continues to push for the end of TPS, the facts make clear that Haiti remains unsafe for returnees.
Source: https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/jun/29/Supreme-Court-TPS-Haitians-safe-Markwayne-Mullin/