Catholic bishops across the United States are calling on lawmakers to preserve temporary protected status for Haitian refugees, urging senators to support legislation that would shield approximately 350,000 individuals from immediate deportation. The appeal comes as a House bill proposes a three-year reprieve from removal for those who fled ongoing violence in Haiti.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued an action alert encouraging the faithful to contact their congressional representatives regarding immigration reform. The Church’s leadership argues that returning families to Haiti would expose them to life-threatening conditions, citing recent atrocities in Port-au-Prince where at least 47 people were murdered, more than 20 injured, and over 50 kidnapped. Victims of this violence included displaced families seeking shelter within a church.

Legal Challenges and Executive Action

The push for legislative protection follows an executive decision by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to terminate temporary protected status for Haitians, Syrians, and other groups. That determination is currently under review by the Supreme Court. In the interim, Haitian refugees have been required to prepare for deportation and wear ankle monitors, with some removal flights already underway.

Haitian immigrants were initially granted TPS by the Biden administration in 2021. Many of these refugees have since resettled in communities across Ohio and Florida. The sudden shift in policy has created uncertainty for families who have built lives in the United States while their home country remains unstable due to widespread gang violence, a cholera epidemic, food insecurity, and a lack of functioning state institutions.

Episcopal Appeals to the President

Archbishop Paul Coakely of Oklahoma City wrote to President Donald Trump on September 8 expressing the Church’s concerns. “I write with deep pastoral concern in relation to the growing number of Haitians being forcibly repatriated to Haiti from the United States and to humbly request your assistance,” Archbishop Coakely stated.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami joined bishops from Ohio in pleading for an extension of TPS protections. “It would be an act of abject cruelty for the United States to send families back to such dangerous and unsafe conditions,” Archbishop Wenski said.

Local Impact and Moral Arguments

The humanitarian crisis has had tangible effects on local communities. In Springfield, Ohio, Haitian immigrants faced slanderous reports alleging they were stealing and killing neighbors’ pets, fueling social tension. The Ohio Catholic Conference issued a statement on June 22 declaring there is no moral justification for terminating TPS without providing an alternative status adjustment.

The bishops’ appeal draws on the Church’s long-standing commitment to the dignity of migrants and the protection of the vulnerable. By urging Congress to act, Church leaders seek to ensure that policy decisions reflect both legal stability and moral responsibility toward those fleeing persecution. The outcome of the Supreme Court review and the passage of the House bill will determine whether these protections remain in place or if deportations continue.