Haitians who are in the U.S. legally under temporary programs say they are concerned about their ability to remain in the country as President-elect Donald Trump plans to end the programs and carry out mass deportations on Day One of his administration.
Warrens Dolcine, 23, was a political science and international relations student at the Université d’État d’Haïti, when gang violence began to spread through Port-au-Prince, the capital, and the surrounding area, putting her and her mother in constant peril.
“The gangs didn’t take over in one day,” she said. “It was gradual. They worked on your mind first. They started kidnapping people in 2021, and I had to keep leaving my house to stay with my family. Eventually, it wasn’t safe for me or my mom anymore.”
The mother and daughter spent two years shuttling between their home and staying with family members outside of Port-au-Prince. As the violence escalated, they fled Haiti. After a tumultuous escape, Dolcine and her mother came to the United States under the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole Program, which currently creates a legal pathway for temporary visas for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
Eligible individuals are granted permission to stay in the country for up to two years, allowing them also work. Applicants must meet specific criteria, including passing security screenings, and are required to have a U.S.-based sponsor. The program, known as the CHNV, aims to address the growing refugee crises in countries like Haiti.
By the end of August 2024, about half a million people from the four countries came to the U.S. under Humanitarian Parole during the Biden administration and 210,000 were Haitian, according to the National Foundation for American Policy.
Sponsored by her great-aunt, Dolcine and her mother entered the U.S. legally in December 2023. She now works full time as an assistant at her church in New York City, while caring for her mother, who is disabled.
On the campaign trail, Trump announced plans to launch an unprecedented deportation initiative targeting undocumented criminals, drug traffickers and human traffickers. During a NewsNation interview, Trump also mentioned his intention to end programs like Temporary Protected Status, which is set to expire in 2026 and would need to be renewed. The program has been adopted by administrations going back to George H.W. Bush.
However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services emphasizes that potential beneficiaries of the program undergo rigorous background checks to ensure they pose no security threat to the U.S. Trump’s team did not specifically address the impact of these plans on Haitian migrants when reached by NBC News.
Dolcine said she is determined to stay in the U.S., but is worried about her mother, who depends on her both financially and emotionally.
“If my mom has a problem, I have a problem,” she said. “She asks, ‘What will happen to us?’ I don’t have the answers, but I have faith that God will work it out.”
Orilas Jean Francois was also forced to leave Haiti, under extenuating circumstances, he said. Back home he owned construction and finance businesses, which provided a stable life for his family, he said. But in early 2024, Francois started to conceive an escape plan from the violence and economic collapse that define the island nation today.
“It wasn’t a choice I made lightly,” he said. “I had to leave to find safety and a way to provide for my wife and children.”
Port-au-Prince is facing a surge in violence, with at least 5,600 killings and nearly 1,500 kidnappings reported last year, according to the United Nations. A December massacre in Cité Soleil claimed at least 207 lives, with victims mutilated, burned or dumped at sea by the Wharf Jérémie gang.
Political unrest and gang violence delayed his departure from Haiti multiple times, even after he was authorized to enter the U.S. under the Humanitarian Parole Program.
“In March, I had my ticket and my documents ready to travel, but a massive prison break left the streets unsafe and flights were canceled,” Francois said. His trip was delayed so many times that his initial authorization expired, forcing him to petition USCIS for an extension. “The stress was unbearable.”
Francois finally arrived in the U.S. in July under the program.After living with his family in New York City for a few months, Francois said he is focused on learning English and finding steady work.
“I don’t want to rely on others for support,” he said. “I want to work, provide for my family and show my gratitude to those who sponsored me.”
Francois and Dolcine both emphasized their commitment to self-sufficiency, pushing back on rhetoric about migrants relying on government aid.
The temporary programs, however, come with issues. Last year, the Humanitarian Parole Program was briefly paused after at least 101,000 applications were filed by so-called serial sponsors, repeatedly using the same contact information and Social Security numbers, according to USCIS.
Nonetheless, Dolcine highlighted the contributions of Haitian migrants in the United States, who are predominantly employed in service-related occupations, with a significant presence in health care support roles. According to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, 71% of Haitian immigrants aged 16 and older participate in the civilian labor force, compared to 66% of the overall foreign-born population.
“Every Haitian I know is a skilled worker,” she said. “We work in the medical field, construction, and other professions. I plan to study nursing while working full-time and helping my mom.”
For Francois, deportation would mean extreme risk. “We left because we had no choice,” he said. “There’s no life in Haiti. If we’re sent back, we’ll be at even greater risk.”
Yolette Williams, CEO of the Haitian American Alliance of New York, which provides help for Haitians locally and in their home country, underscored the emotional toll of living in limbo.
“The lack of a clear plan is devastating,” she said. “People need stability to rebuild their lives. At the very least, the government must provide clarity and extend protections for those who have already proven they are contributing to society.”
As Trump threatens to dismantle programs that provide a lifeline for migrants like Dolcine and Francois, they remain steadfast, drawing strength from their faith and dreams. “He talks a lot,” Dolcine said with a smile, referring to the president-elect. “I’m just going to live in the moment and let things be.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
