‘Haitians for Trump’ leader urges president to extend TPS | Open Letter

Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter submitted to The Haitian Times by Madgie Nicolas chair of Haitians for Trump and immigration lawyer Mayra Joli on July 9, 2025. Nicolas is a former advisor to the Trump administration and Joli is an immigration attorney.

Dear President Donald J. Trump, 

I write to you with great urgency on the dire and rapidly worsening situation in Haiti, which was discussed  at a recent policy conference. The conversation clearly revealed the escalating insecurity and deepening  instability in Haiti. These conditions are so severe that the country cannot safely receive its citizens. 

The crisis in Haiti is spiraling out of control. Widespread violence, economic collapse, and a crumbling infrastructure have made the nation increasingly unsafe for its people. As a result, the Temporary  Protected Status, TPS, for Haitian nationals has become a lifeline for thousands who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a country that cannot guarantee their safety or basic human rights. 

The Haitian people, like the American people, share the values that have made the United States successful and a beacon of civil liberties that echo across the world. A true beacon of freedom, hope,  opportunity, and prosperity. 

We urge you, with the utmost urgency, to reconsider any action that would revoke TPS for Haitians. The implications of such a decision are catastrophic. The recipients of this decision are already living in a state of constant vulnerability. Removing their protection now would effectively condemn them to an uncertain and potentially deadly future in a country that is no longer capable of providing for them. 

In the past, under your leadership, Mr. President, you extended TPS to Haitian nationals three times, understanding the critical need for their protection. (Editorial note: See clarification below regarding TPS extensions under the Trump administration.) 

Thanks to your bold and decisive leadership, the Haitian people have been able to work, raise families, and contribute to American communities. The situation in  Haiti has only worsened since then, and the need for continued protection is more pressing than ever.  This is a moment where decisive action is necessary, and we trust that you will rise to the occasion, as you have done before. 

The people of Haiti, especially those who now call the U.S. home, desperately need your leadership once more. We implore you to act with the urgency this crisis demands.

Madgie Nicolas and Mayra Joli, Esq. Chair – Haitians for Trump 

Editorial note: The open letter referenced above claims that former President Donald Trump extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals three times during his presidency. While it is true that TPS designations were extended under his administration, there is no evidence that Trump voluntarily extended those protections. Instead, court rulings—such as the 2018 injunction in Ramos v. Nielsen—forced the Department of Homeland Security to extend TPS as a matter of legal compliance, not presidential discretion.

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