On Thursday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) announced an end to temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian illegal aliens, thus allowing the agency to begin deportations of that particular group as well.

As The Hill reports, the memorandum from Secretary Noem would end deportation protections for over 520,000 Haitians who are in the United States illegally. Haitians had previously been granted TPS by the Biden Administration and the Obama Administration, which protected them from deportation out of fear of unrest or natural disasters in their home country.

“Biden and [former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas attempted to tie the hands of the Trump administration by extending Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status by 18 months, far longer than justified or necessary,” the DHS said in a statement.

“We are returning integrity to the TPS system, which has been abused and exploited by illegal aliens for decades,” the statement continued. “President Trump and Secretary Noem are returning TPS to its original status: Temporary.”

Haitians were first granted TPS during the Obama presidency after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the island nation in 2010. In 2011, at least 57,000 Haitians registered for protection. Their protected status was then renewed in 2021 by the Biden White House following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, which led to widespread civil unrest.

The Trump Administration’s DHS has already revoked TPS for Venezuelan illegals. As that decision has been facing legal challenges from pro-amnesty advocates, the Haitian decision is expected to face lawsuits as well.