Republican Congressional Candidate and U.S. Army Purple Heart Recipient Dr. Rod Joseph affirmed that “Haitians want to go back to Haiti,” addressing the U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) recent ruling on the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Program.
The U.S. Army Combat Veteran spoke with The Floridian about his views on the significant decision, which now puts the Haitian population, especially in Southern Florida, at risk of deportation.
Joseph assured that “there’s no Haitian that’s on TPS that wants to stay here [the U.S.].” Since the people have left their country, they’ve left behind their homes, jobs, and family, with some people having “no place to go back home because of the turmoil over there.”
Haitian Politicians "Are In Cahoots" With U.S. Politicians
The U.S. Army Combat Veteran also addressed rival Haitian interest groups’ efforts to obtain U.S. influence as leverage in political proxy battles in the country, stating that there are Haitian politicians “that are in cahoots with the politicians here.”
Joseph asserts that if the U.S. touts support for the Haitian population and against corruption within the Haitian government, then the “corrupt politician cannot flourish in Haiti.”
U.S. Efforts At Securing Stability in Haiti
The U.S. has remained heavily involved in seeking to enact Haitian-led solutions in the country. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, the U.S. and international partners backed Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry, however, resigned after armed gangs took over much of Port-au-Prince.
Following Henry’s resignation, a nine-member transitional presidential council was formed to help Haiti transition towards peaceful elections in 2024. Turmoil within the council, however, eventually resulted in political infighting and corruption scandals.
In 2026, after Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was elected, the council sought to oust the newly elected executive. The U.S. firmly backed Fils-Aimé, warning of steep consequences to corrupt public officials.
In Feb. 2026, the council dissolved, leaving Fils-Aimé as the sole leader of the executive branch.
Trump Administration Must Refrain From Being "Inhumane"
Joseph believes that the current Trump administration needs to start utilizing different approaches to tackling crime and illegal immigration. The veteran affirmed that he will make it clear to the administration that it must begin to humanize and consider the Haitian population in the country.
Sharing his understanding that the current administration is seeking to go after hard criminals, Joseph also emphasized that the Haitian population here in the U.S. is not at fault for their 10-16 years in the country.
“We’re not asking for special favors for Haitians… They were invited as a humanitarian relief.”
“Now these people have jobs, they have a house, some people have kids who joined the military,” Joseph added.
“No Haitian ever sees the U.S. as a far distance place, because it [is] always the place that welcomes us,” Joseph said
“I understand we have a strict law. Close the border. I’m for closing the border, I’m for a good path to citizenship. But, at the same time, we cannot be inhumane in doing so,” the Republican candidate stated.
