Migrant Leaves U.S. for Canada: 'We No Longer Have to Fight for Fair Treatment'

Gemima Cadet, 32, found a new sense of security in Canada after leaving the United States, where she had lived for 16 years. The decision to cross the border with her mother in January came after the Trump administration moved to end Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for Haitians. This measure left hundreds of thousands without legal authorization to live and work in the U.S.

"Since we've been here, we feel like we no longer have to fight for our right to live, to simply exist, to receive fair treatment," Cadet told CNN, describing her new life in Ottawa. The end of TPS created widespread fear within Haitian communities in Florida, with concerns about family separation, job loss, and potential return to Haiti, a country grappling with significant gang violence.

The journey to the Canadian border was fraught with anxiety, marked by a fear of encountering immigration agents amid reports of raids. The U.S. Supreme Court's June 2026 ruling, which allowed the government to terminate TPS for around 350,000 Haitians, was formalized in August 2026. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson argued that TPS had become a de facto permanent residency program, contrary to its temporary intent.

Immigration lawyers in Ottawa and Montreal have noted a sustained increase in inquiries from Haitians residing in the United States following the Supreme Court's decision. The ruling has significant consequences, including the loss of work authorization and protection from detention and deportation for those with TPS-linked work visas.

“

Since we've been here, we feel like we no longer have to fight for our right to live, to simply exist, to receive fair treatment.