‘Do not travel’ to Haiti advisory still in effect amid proposed US travel ban on Haitians

The Trump administration is considering a travel ban affecting citizens from up to 43 countries, including Haiti. Haiti is classified as ‘orange,’ meaning travel to the country would be restricted but not entirely prohibited, according to sources familiar with an internal memo circulating last week. The proposed list, which restricts travel to Haiti on immigrant and tourist visas, may allow exceptions for wealthy travelers.

The proposed ban has drawn criticism from members of Congress and community leaders, who argue that it contradicts U.S. immigration policies toward Haiti.

In 2024, the Biden administration issued a Level 4 travel advisory, warning Americans not to travel to Haiti, which is still in effect. The advisory warns against travel “due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.” As a result of the conditions in Haiti, the Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians – which has since been partially rescinded under the new Trump administration. 

“Trump has made it very clear where he stands when it comes to immigration, helping other countries and even opening up possibilities for immigrants to have opportunities in America,” said H.P., a second-generation Haitian American and Ivy League graduate student who asked to be identified by initials for fear of retribution.

“Him creating all these blockades is really, to me, looks like he’s just trying to block any way for anybody to come in, regardless of how it sounds, regardless of if it sounds contradictory, he doesn’t care.”

In response to the proposed ban, leaders from across the Caribbean have also sounded the alarm, seeking clarity from the Trump administration about the announcement on which they received no formal communication. 

Antigua and Barbuda’s embassy in Washington expressed concern over the proposed U.S. travel ban in a letter seen by Reuters, while Dominica’s prime minister said he was seeking more information, and Saint Kitts and Nevis stated it remains open to dialogue with the U.S.

“The President has an important interest in preserving national security, but the proposed ban overwhelmingly targets majority Black countries,” said Brian Concannon, executive director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH). 

“The targeting makes the ban look like a continuation of demonstrably racist previous policies such as the 2017 Muslim ban and the unjustified terminations of TPS for Haiti and other countries. Making America safer is laudable, making America whiter betrays our Constitution and our values.” 

Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Haitian American Florida Democrat who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also weighed in on Trump’s immigration policies affecting Haitians.

“The decision to deport Haitians while simultaneously warning Americans that Haiti is too dangerous to visit is not just a double standard—it is deeply irresponsible,” she told The Haitian Times. “Sending people back to a country grappling with extreme violence, political instability and humanitarian crises amounts to a blatant disregard for their safety and dignity.” 

Cherfilus-McCormick also warns of the economic impact on America if TPS is not reinstated.

“The sudden exodus of over half a million Haitian workers will cripple local economies across America, including in my home state of Florida where Haitian TPS holders contribute $2.1 billion to the economy every year,” Cherfilus-McCormick added.

A report by the American Immigration Council, “The Contributions of Temporary Protected Status Holders to the U.S. Economy,” estimates that ending TPS for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti would cost the U.S. $45.2 billion in GDP and cut Social Security and Medicare contributions by $6.9 billion over a decade.

For H.P., Trump is treating the Haitian crisis as a distant issue rather than an urgent humanitarian priority.

“He’s saying that he does not care. He doesn’t care that Haiti is dangerous. That’s a them problem,” H.P. said.

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