End of Haitian temporary protected status sparks concern in Montgomery County

Local advocates say families face job loss, deportation, uncertainty after federal decision

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August 13, 2026 11:57 a.m.

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Following a recent decision by the Trump administration to end temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) used his weekly Wednesday media briefing to discuss how the change has impacted some Haitian residents in the county.  

“Montgomery County is home to thousands of Haitian families who work, raise children here, run small businesses and contribute to our community every single day,” Elrich said, noting that many came due to political unrest and the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. “Late last month, the federal government announced the discriminate termination of temporary protected status, also known as TPS for Haitian residents.”  

According to the American Immigration Council, more than 330,000 Haitians could lose protections under the termination of TPS. 

Elrich discussed the change alongside Genevieve Augustine, director of legal services at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) and the Rev. Evans Faustin, executive director of the Caribbean Health Center. 

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“This situation creates fear, anxiety and uncertainty about what is really going to happen,” Faustin said, adding that many have already lost jobs, while others quit because they are afraid to continue working and encountering immigration enforcement officers at work or while on their way to work.

Augustine said CARECEN helped Haitian immigrants in Montgomery County by providing monthly workshops, Know Your Rights presentations, free consultations and legal services. She noted that the loss of work authorization for Haitians will have effects in industries where Haitian workers have a large presence. 

“Haitians are very dominant in the healthcare professions, and people just don’t know who’s going to help take care of people,” Augustine said. “People are in a panic. Like, who is going to take care of all the people? Who’s going to step in the shoes and fill the roles that Haitians have been filling?” 

Augustine shared an anecdote of a woman who came to the United States at about 5 years old, grew up in the country and became a nurse practitioner. Augustine said the woman, now 30, had TPS. 

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“Imagine how much she’s contributing to our society right here. She literally has no other way to stay here,” Augustine said.  

Faustin said the fear of enforcement will impact families’ everyday activities.  

“Children won’t be able to go to school because their parents will be afraid to send them and if they do and ICE catches them at home when the child comes back from school there will be no parents,” Faustin said, later adding, “In case of illness they might be afraid to go to the hospital for medical care or take the bus in fear of being exposed to attackers.” 

Augustine said fear of immigration enforcement has made some Haitians reluctant to speak out about how the TPS termination has affected them.  

“We are putting together a stories list so people can really hear the voices of the people that are affected by this,” Augustine said. “Many of them do not want to say so publicly because they are so afraid of getting on a Zoom call or making a presentation and becoming a direct target of ICE.”  

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine