Trump ally tells migrants to seek permanent status or leave US: 'Fill out paperwork or...'

Migrants in the United States currently residing under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) face a stark choice: secure permanent residency or depart the country, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. His comments, made on CNN's State of the Union, come in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that potentially opens the door for significant changes to immigration protections.

Mullin explicitly stated, “Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status or we'll help you get back to your country.” He further elaborated that the government could offer assistance with departure, including a plane ticket and approximately $2,100 to aid in re-establishing themselves in their home countries. He emphasized that TPS, by its very nature and as interpreted by the courts, is not a permanent solution.

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Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status or we'll help you get back to your country.

The Supreme Court's split decision clears the path for the revocation of TPS for an estimated 350,000 Haitians and around 6,000 Syrians. This program, established for individuals fleeing conflict, natural disasters, and other crises, allows them to live and work legally in the U.S., often for extended periods. The State Department continues to advise against travel to Haiti and Syria due to ongoing violence and instability.

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We'll actually give you a plane ticket, plus roughly $2,100 to help you re-establish when you get there, but temporary protective status, according to the courts and in its name itself, is not permanent status.

The ruling has ignited a political firestorm. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine voiced concerns, highlighting the continued unsafe conditions in Haiti and warning of the economic repercussions of removing essential workers, particularly in the healthcare sector. "It’s Haitians who many times are taking care of your mom or your dad who has Alzheimer's, taking care of family members who might be in a nursing home," DeWine stated, questioning the self-interest of such a move.

Immigration advocates and affected communities echo these concerns, fearing disruption to families who have established lives in the U.S. over decades. In Springfield, Ohio, Haitian residents expressed palpable uncertainty and fear. While some local officials and Republican lawmakers have called for the extension of protections, the court's conservative majority ruled that challengers failed to prove the administration's actions were racially motivated.

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It’s Haitians who many times are taking care of your mom or your dad who has Alzheimer's, taking care of family members who might be in a nursing home. And to say we're going to pull all those out, it's just not in our own self-interest.