During a September 23, 2021, appearance on the talk show “The View,” Vice President Kamala Harris defended her administration’s efforts to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian immigrants, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism. Harris highlighted the importance of providing support to Haitians entering the United States and emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to assisting the island nation. However, these comments come as some U.S. cities, such as Springfield, Ohio, report challenges related to the influx of Haitian immigrants. told by Daily Truth Rerport.
Harris began by reiterating the U.S. responsibility to help Haiti during times of crisis, saying, “The United States has to help. And we have to do more, and our administration feels strongly about that.” She went on to explain that under the Biden-Harris administration, TPS had been extended to over 100,000 Haitian migrants, up from the initial 55,000, noting, “They need support. They need protection.”
Temporary Protected Status allows immigrants from countries facing crises—such as natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions—to reside temporarily in the United States. Originally established to provide temporary refuge for non-citizens, the program has been expanded by the Biden administration, making more than 1.2 million immigrants eligible for TPS, including nearly 500,000 individuals added in 2023 and 2024 alone, according to the Pew Research Center.
As recently as June 2024, an additional 300,000 Haitians became eligible for TPS, according to NBC, as the administration continued its efforts to provide protection to migrants fleeing difficult conditions in their home country. Harris framed the expansion as a necessary humanitarian response, underscoring the administration’s belief in offering refuge to those in need.
However, these decisions have not been without controversy. In Springfield, Ohio, some residents expressed frustration over the rapid influx of Haitian immigrants, which they say has strained the community’s resources and affected quality of life. Springfield resident Anthony Harris described chaotic scenes involving Haitian migrants in a meeting with city officials, according to the Federalist. “These Haitians are running into trash cans, buildings, flipping cars in the middle of the street,” Harris told local officials. He went on to share disturbing incidents of migrants allegedly killing animals in public parks, including cutting off the heads of ducks.
The situation in Springfield is one of several across the country where local communities have voiced concerns about the social and economic impacts of immigration. Critics argue that while TPS grants legal status to many migrants, the sheer number of arrivals has overwhelmed certain areas, leading to problems with integration and public safety.
Republican Senator J.D. Vance, a vice-presidential candidate from Ohio, has been particularly vocal in his opposition to the administration’s immigration policies. Vance has criticized the use of programs like TPS and mass parole to grant legal status to large numbers of immigrants, arguing that these measures bypass proper legal procedures. “The media loves to say that the Haitian migrants…are here legally,” Vance said, according to MSN. “What they mean is that Kamala Harris used two separate programs, mass parole, and Temporary Protected Status, to wave a wand and say we’re not going to deport these people.”
Vance further claimed that Harris’s actions, while technically legal under certain immigration statutes, amount to an unlawful use of executive power. “If Kamala Harris waves the wand illegally and says these people are now here legally, I’m still going to call them illegal aliens,” he said. “An illegal action from Kamala Harris does not make any alien legal.”
This debate over the legality and scope of TPS has sparked broader discussions about immigration reform, as some argue that the system is being misused to allow permanent residency under the guise of temporary protection.
In addition to the expansion of TPS, Vice President Harris has faced criticism for her earlier comments on the controversial images of Border Patrol agents confronting Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021. Harris condemned what appeared to be violence against the migrants, referencing images of agents on horseback allegedly using reins as whips—a claim that was later debunked. Nonetheless, Harris stood by her initial outrage, stating, “I was outraged by it. It was horrible and deeply troubling… Human beings should not be treated that way.”
Harris’s consistent support for Haitian immigrants reflects the administration’s broader commitment to immigration reform and humanitarian aid. Yet, as tensions rise in local communities like Springfield, the ongoing debate over TPS and its impact on the U.S. continues to shape public discourse on the nation’s immigration policies.
