American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) has allocated $135,000 in emergency assistance to support Haitian communities impacted by the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The funds were distributed through 27 grants, typically amounting to $5,000 each, to churches and ministries assisting Haitian immigrants across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The Trump administration ended TPS for Haitians effective July 27, which has affected approximately 350,000 Haitian immigrants in the United States. TPS provides temporary legal status and work authorization to immigrants escaping armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.
According to ABCUSA’s American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), the emergency funds come amid an escalating crisis as the federal government intensifies its efforts to detain and deport immigrants. Religious organizations, including ABCUSA, have sought to challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement actions in sensitive locations like churches, schools, and hospitals.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the termination of TPS for up to 1 million immigrants from multiple countries, including Haiti, Afghanistan, and Syria, thereby adding to the ongoing fears and challenges faced by immigrant communities.
ABHMS has reported receiving requests for $174,000 in additional emergency assistance and is actively raising $250,000 to meet the needs of its 80 Haitian American Baptist congregations. Jeffrey Haggray, the executive director of ABHMS, emphasized the importance of supporting communities during these uncertain times. “For ABHMS, accompaniment means staying present when people’s lives become precarious and helping our churches turn compassion into practical care,” he stated.
Mario Joseph, ABHMS partner liaison for Haitian communities, has highlighted the tangible struggles faced by Haitian immigrants, including job and health insurance losses, heightened fear of deportation, and reduced church attendance. “Someone has lost the ability to work. A family is worried about paying rent or buying groceries,” he described, illustrating the pervasive anxiety surrounding immigration status.
Joseph also called on congregations working with affected immigrants to establish crisis teams to evaluate needs and connect families with available community resources, such as counseling and legal aid. He stressed that while churches cannot replace legal professionals, they can facilitate access to reliable information and practical support for families in crisis.
As the situation continues to evolve, ABCUSA remains committed to providing assistance in response to the pressing needs of Haitian immigrants and their communities.
