President Donald Trump is facing growing opposition from members of his own party as several Republican lawmakers urge his administration to reconsider ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Republican officials, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Representatives Carlos Gimenez, Mike Lawler, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Nicole Malliotakis, have warned that deporting Haitians would create humanitarian and economic challenges.
They argue that Haiti remains unsafe because of ongoing gang violence, political instability, and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
The Trump administration is pressing forward with plans to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Haitian migrants after the Supreme Court ruled last month that it has the legal authority to do so.
The 6-3 decision in Mullin v. Doe has triggered open resistance from several Republican elected officials who warn that rapid deportations could harm U.S. communities and strain conditions in Haiti.
The ruling affirmed the executive branch’s power to terminate TPS designations for countries facing armed conflict or natural disasters.
It directly affects Haitians and Syrians, with potential implications for more than 1 million holders from 11 other countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan and Somalia.
TPS has allowed recipients to live and work legally in the United States while conditions in their home countries remain unsafe.
Practical Concerns Drive GOP Dissent
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, stated that more than 10,000 Haitians in his state, many in the Springfield area, would lose legal status and face immediate deportation.
“These Haitians were working and contributing to our community and economy yesterday,” DeWine said. “Today it is now illegal to employ them.”
Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez called deporting Haitians “a huge mistake,” citing ongoing gang violence and political instability in Haiti since the 2021 assassination of its president.
The State Department continues to advise against travel there. Gimenez also urged extensions for Venezuelans, noting recent earthquakes in that country, which holds the largest TPS population at approximately 650,000.
Similar warnings came from Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Mike Lawler of New York and Nicole Malliotakis of New York. They pointed to potential labor shortages in agriculture, healthcare and hospitality sectors that rely on TPS workers.
Malliotakis, who voted with Democrats earlier this year on a bipartisan bill to extend protections for Haitians, said she is pressing the White House for work authorization for those already paying taxes.
The pushback marks a notable divide within the Republican Party. While some hard-line conservatives view the Supreme Court decision as a mandate for swift enforcement, other GOP figures emphasize implementation challenges.
Also Read: Thousands of Immigrants Could Lose Legal Status as Supreme Court Backs Trump TPS Move
As reported by the Hill, a source close to the White House described internal debates between those seeking rapid action and those favoring caution over operational realities.
Critics of delays argue that postponing enforcement undermines the administration’s immigration agenda. Republican strategist Ford O’Connell said conservatives must not “keep kicking the can down the road.”
White House Rejects Compromise
The administration showed no willingness to retreat. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said on Monday:
“The Trump Administration remains totally committed to fulfilling President Trump’s promise to enforce federal immigration law. Anyone present in the United States without legal status should self-deport, if not, they will be removed.”
Several of the Republican critics were among the 11 GOP members who crossed party lines in April to support legislation blocking the end of TPS for Haitians.
The dispute comes as the administration advances a broader hard-line immigration policy. Republicans in Congress and state offices now weigh enforcement goals against constituent pressures from industries and communities dependent on the current workforce. No immediate extension or new work authorization program has been announced.
