News/Commentary

Florida lawmaker says Haiti deportations should not move forward

July 6, 2026 | | Print Article

Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Republican, described Haiti as a “failed state” and said deportations would be a “mistake.”

The lawmaker made the curious comments on Sunday, during a “Face the Nation” appearance with CBS News, as he addressed the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the term “temporary” in Temporary Protected Status.

Watch:

(Video Credit: Face the Nation)

“In the case of Haiti, without a doubt, Haiti is a failed state, and I think that deporting Haitians that are under TPS right now back to Haiti would be a huge mistake,” he said.

“I mean, that’s the reason why TPS was established to begin with, just like with Venezuelans. If Venezuelans lose their TPS status — which they have, too — we should reinstate that because of the devastation caused by these earthquakes that happened last week,” he added. “TPS should not be abused. TPS is what it says: temporary protective status. If you are here for a number of years, you should change your status from TPS to something else. But by the same token, it is meant to safeguard those that are fleeing countries which are either failed states and would be at risk of going back to them, or countries that can’t handle them, as the case of Venezuela.”

He shared the same sentiments on X:

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“Haiti today is overrun by violent gangs. It is neither safe nor humane to force our neighbors back into those conditions. Providing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is not just sound policy—it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

But users were not so quick to agree:

“I am confused. TPS was given (to those already here illegally) after an earthquake. That meant those already here couldn’t be deported although eligible. It did not confer legal status. When it was extended several times (with Mar 2026 being the end of the most recent extension per Biden), it let new illegal arrivals step under the TPS umbrella. Then more were imported by the gvt itself. Why is it sound policy? Why is it the right thing to do? Don’t tell me about healthcare workers and our seniors dying alone if they leave. Don’t tell me about businesses and mortgages and such that received subsidies our kids can’t get. Explain exactly why and when you perceive temporary to end by definition. Maybe there is a case for Haitians to return to their homeland and effect a change? Or is this about votes? There are quite a few layers that need to be discussed before making this kind of pronouncement,” one said.

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Sierra Marlee
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