Temporary protected status was granted to Haitian immigrants in 2010 after a major earthquake in the country and has since been extended multiple times.
Former president Donald Trump said in a new interview he would revoke the legal status of Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, and work to deport them back to their native country.
âIt has nothing to do with Haiti or anything else. It doesnât work. You have to remove the people and you have to bring them back to their own country,â Trump told NewsNation in the interview, which took place on Oct. 2.
âSpringfield is such a beautiful place. Have you seen whatâs happened to it? Itâs been overrun. You canât do that to people. They have to be removed. Absolutely, Iâd revoke [the status]. Iâd bring them back to their country.â
Trump also said that he doesnât view the protection the immigrants have as legal.
Temporary protected status gives immigrants from certain countries the ability to legally work and live in the United States, even if they entered illegally. Officials grant the status when they find the immigrantsâ home countries have conditions that make returning there unsafe.
Trump has campaigned on cracking down on illegal immigration by increasing deportations, ending some programs the Biden administration has implemented, and strengthening barriers and staffing at the border.
The deportation effort would rely in part on local law enforcement who are familiar with the immigrants, Trump said. He said it would extend to other local communities in addition to Springfield.
Vice President Kamala Harris has said that she was heartbroken over schools and other places in Springfield closing due to threats that came into the city after officials and former officials started drawing attention to the influx of immigrants.
Biden used similar language in speaking to reporters, rebuffing recent allegations that the Haitian immigrants were abducting and eating residentsâ cats and dogs.
Jeff Louderback contributed to this report.
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