U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a call on June 28 for migrants residing in the United States under temporary protected status (TPS) to either apply for permanent residency or return to their home countries. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mullin emphasized that TPS, by its nature, is intended as a temporary measure and not a pathway to permanent legal status.

“If you are here on temporary protected status, either try to fill out the paperwork to be here on permanent status, or we’ll help you get back to your country,” Mullin stated. He added that those opting to return would be provided with a plane ticket and approximately $2,100 to assist with reestablishment upon arrival.

TPS allows individuals who flee crises such as war, natural disasters, or other emergencies in their home countries to live temporarily in the U.S. The program was first extended to Haitians following the 2010 earthquake and to Syrians as a result of civil war beginning in 2012. Although TPS protections have been renewed periodically, a recent split Supreme Court decision upheld the Trump administration’s move to terminate TPS for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian nationals. The court found that claimants were unlikely to demonstrate racial discrimination in the administration’s decision.

Despite the ruling, concerns remain over the safety of returning migrants. The State Department continues to advise against travel to both Haiti and Syria due to ongoing violence, crime, terrorism, and instability.

Opposition to the deportations has emerged from various quarters, including some Republicans. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, also speaking on CNN, argued that returning Haitians to the deteriorating security environment in their home country was unsafe and counterproductive to the state’s economy. DeWine highlighted the critical role many Haitians play in sectors such as healthcare and elder care, noting they contribute significantly to Ohio’s workforce and economic recovery in formerly declining areas.

“It’s Haitians who many times are taking care of your mom or your dad who has Alzheimer’s, taking care of family members who might be in a nursing home,” DeWine said. “To say we’re going to pull all those out, it’s just not in our own self-interest.”

The debate over TPS underscores ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration policy, as the government balances legal frameworks, humanitarian concerns, and economic considerations amid shifting judicial and political dynamics.