Haitian Migrants Leave U.S. for Canada as Trump Ends Temporary Protected Status

Haitian migrants who entered the United States under Biden-era humanitarian programs are increasingly crossing into Canada illegally as the Trump administration dismantles their legal protections, according to reporting by The Atlantic. The magazine, in a piece sympathetic to the migrants, detailed how a former Haitian police officer and others are navigating Canada’s border after losing their work permits and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

A Policeman’s Path

Albert, whose name was changed for privacy, served as a Haitian police officer for more than two decades, joining an anti-gang unit trained by U.S., Canadian, and French instructors. After his best friend—a fellow officer—was killed by gunmen in 2022, Albert sought a way out. He had a side job providing security for a U.S. missionary organization, which sponsored him. The Biden administration granted him humanitarian parole, and he arrived in New York City in 2024 with his two youngest sons, ages 10 and 9. His two adult children already lived in the U.S.

A friend urged him to move to Evansville, Indiana, then to Columbus, Ohio, where he found work in the shipping department of a cosmetics company. That job lasted less than a year. After President Trump took office and canceled the parole program, Albert lost his work permit. In late June, he crossed from New York into Canada illegally through the forest with his sons. “Albert has been looking for a way out of Haiti for years,” The Atlantic reported.

A Broader Exodus

Canadian authorities and Americans living along the border report a noticeable rise in illegal migrants moving from the U.S. into Canada, both at legal checkpoints and through forest trails and forgotten backroads. The Atlantic noted that many of these migrants are Haitians who have lost their TPS. During the Biden administration, nearly 300,000 Haitians entered the U.S. after TPS was expanded to allow more Haitians to come legally or illegally. Trump revoked that extended coverage, leaving hundreds of thousands without legal work authorization and few options to remain.

While some plan to wait out Trump’s term and hope a Democrat wins in 2028, others see Canada as their best option—better than returning to Haiti, where gangs have overrun parts of the country. But Canada has recently changed its rules to put at least some brakes on allowing Haitians to gain legal status there, suggesting the country is not eager to absorb them either.

Border Tensions and Dangerous Crossings

There are no hard numbers yet on how many Haitians have left the U.S. for Canada. But Jerry Miller, a farmer who lives on the U.S. side of the border between New York and Canada, told The Atlantic that he and his neighbors have seen a huge uptick in illegal migrants sneaking through the woods. He also noted that litter, environmental destruction, and vandalism have risen accordingly.

Canadian immigration officials and local police have launched more intensive campaigns to stop the “coyotes” who make millions annually smuggling people across the U.S.-Canada border. They warned that many migrants are at risk because they are unaware of how cold it gets along the border. Many make dangerous, arduous treks through the wilderness without proper shoes, clothing, or cold-weather gear. The coyotes often abandon them at the first opportunity, leaving the migrants to fend for themselves.

Haiti’s Loss, U.S. Gain—and Now Departure

The Biden administration’s TPS expansion also drained Haiti of many of its best citizens. Thousands of police officers, doctors, teachers, and other professionals fled to the U.S. for low-wage jobs. The loss of police officers was felt especially hard in Haiti, where fewer officers make it easier for gangs to raid communities with impunity. Albert himself is just one example of this professional exodus.

Meanwhile, President Trump continues to offer a free flight out of the country and a $1,000 stipend for illegal aliens who self-deport. For Haitians like Albert who built lives in the U.S. under temporary protections now revoked, the choice has come down to waiting for a political shift, returning to a country in crisis, or heading north to a border that is increasingly difficult to cross.

This article is based on reporting from The Atlantic and Breitbart News.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/09/22/haitian-migrants-fleeing-the-u-s-for-canada-after-temporary-status-cancelled/