PIH Opposes the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Other Vulnerable Persons

Partners In Health (PIH) condemns the Supreme Court's decision yesterday in favor of the Trump administration's effort to prematurely end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the nearly 350,000 Haitians living in the United States in July 2026.

By ruling in favor of the Trump Administration, the Supreme Court has paved the way for the Department of Homeland Security to tear apart families, destabilize communities, and force vulnerable individuals to return to a country in crisis. This continues a cycle of structural violence against Haitians.

Haiti remains in a state of emergency, with over 1.5 million Haitians internally displaced as of June 2026, primarily due to gang-related violence. The United Nations estimates that 90 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by gangs.

5.8 million people, half of the population of Haiti, are experiencing acute food insecurity. Hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Women are facing an alarming rise in sexual violence, and the UN estimates the rates of children recruited and used by gangs tripled over 2025.

At the same time, violence has led to the prolonged closure of major hospitals and a critical shortage of medical supplies and personnel for those that remain open. Notably, only about 26 percent of inpatient health facilities remain fully operational, with many forced to shut down due to security concerns or lack of resources.

The health system cannot sufficiently meet the demand of Haiti's current population of 11.6 million people. The forced return of 350,000 Haitians from the United States will worsen these challenges, overwhelming the already fragile system. The situation is further exacerbated by the U.S. Government's withholding of congressionally appropriated foreign aid.

TPS began in 1990 to protect nationals of designated countries facing unsafe conditions, such as armed conflict or environmental disasters. Haiti was granted designated status following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that decimated Port-au-Prince in 2010. Their TPS status has been maintained as the country has faced an escalating humanitarian crisis following the assassination of their President in 2021. In recognition of the ongoing nature of the crisis, just this past April, the House passed a bipartisan bill to extend TPS for Haitian Nationals in the U.S.

"It is an immeasurable act of cruelty to force 350,000 people under the protection of the United States to return to a country where the rule of law has collapsed, the medical system is crumbling, roughly half the population lives on $3 a day or less, women are raped to terrorize and control communities, and children are recruited into gangs as weapons of war," said Dr. Sheila Davis, CEO of Partners In Health. "As a demonstration of their ongoing commitment, our colleagues in Haiti have kept our clinics open with unwavering determination, expertise, and bravery."

Despite these challenging situations, the team at Zanmi Lasante (ZL), PIH's sister organization in Haiti, remains committed to providing hope and health care to those we serve. ZL is the second largest health care provider in Haiti, serving 3 million patients a year. ZL continues to adapt to meet the needs of patients, travelling to meet people where they are, maintain continuity in residency programs to support the next generation of physicians in Haiti, and evolving care delivery to ensure patients have access to high-quality health care. We stand in solidarity with Haitian communities and will continue advocating for policies that protect their safety and dignity.