US extends Haiti HOPE and HELP trade programs through 2026
Retroactive extension restores preferential apparel access to the U.S., supporting tens of thousands of Haitian jobs
by The Haitian Times Feb. 06, 2026
Overview:
Congress has retroactively extended the Haiti HOPE and HELP trade preference programs through Dec. 31, 2026, restoring duty-free access for Haitian apparel exports to the United States and providing critical support to the country’s textile sector.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Congress has retroactively extended the Haiti HOPE and HELP trade preference programs, securing duty-free access for Haitian apparel exports through Dec. 31, 2026.
The programs, originally set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025, are vital to Haiti’s textile and apparel sector, which accounted for over 90% of the country’s export earnings as of 2020, according to the U.S. State Department. The retroactive extension also ensures that duties paid since the programs lapsed will be refunded to importers.
Bipartisan Legislation
H.R. 6504: HELP Extension Act
Passed House Jan 12, 2026 • Referred to Senate Finance
Extension Date Dec 31, 2028
Value Threshold 60%
Retroactive Clause: Covers entries made after Sept 30, 2025. Refunds must be requested within 180 days of enactment.
View Eligible Apparel Categories
The HOPE (Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement) and HELP (Haiti Economic Lift Program) Acts, enacted in 2006 and 2010, grant Haitian manufacturers preferential access to the U.S. apparel market, helping stabilize the sector and positioning Haiti as a co-production partner for American firms. According to the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), the programs have been “instrumental to the development of Haiti’s apparel sector” and have supported both U.S. and Haitian textile industries.
The extension comes as part of a broader $1.2 trillion appropriations bill, alongside a similar retroactive renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access for eligible sub-Saharan African countries through Dec. 31, 2026. Duties paid during the lapse of AGOA will also be refunded.
Haiti’s apparel industry has long operated under fragile conditions. A 10% tariff announced on Caribbean imports, imposed in April 2025 by the Trump administration, threatened to destabilize one of the country’s few functioning economic sectors. Garment exports to the U.S. generated $844 million in 2023, making Haiti highly dependent on American demand, while imports of refined petroleum, rice, and cotton fabrics highlighted the country’s trade imbalance and deep reliance on U.S. markets. Without HOPE and HELP, experts warned, the apparel sector and the tens of thousands of jobs it supports could collapse.
Industry groups welcomed the retroactive extension but emphasized the need for proactive, long-term renewal. “While the retroactive passage supports the industry on time lost,” the AAFA said in a statement, “ proactive and long-term renewal is what is needed for predictability, investment, and economic viability to support the U.S. jobs anchored by these programs.”
Now restored, the extension provides a limited window for meaningful reform before the programs’ next expiration in December 2026. Policymakers and trade associations underscore that securing a longer-term solution will be essential to maintain investment and ensure continued stability in Haiti’s apparel sector.
Haiti’s transitional council hands power to US-backed prime minister
Move comes after council tried to oust PM Fils-Aime and the US recently deployed warship to waters near Haiti’s capital.
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has handed power to US-backed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime after almost two years of tumultuous governance marked by rampant gang violence that has left thousands dead.
The transfer of power between the nine-member transitional council and 54-year-old businessman Fils-Aime took place on Saturday under tight security, given Haiti’s unstable political climate.
“Mr Prime Minister, in this historic moment, I know that you are gauging the depth of the responsibility you are taking on for the country,” council President Laurent Saint-Cyr told Fils-Aime, who is now the country’s only politician with executive power.
In late January, several members of the council said they were seeking to remove Fils-Aime, leading the United States to announce visa revocations for four unidentified council members and a cabinet minister.
Days before the council was dissolved, the US deployed a warship and two US coastguard boats to waters near Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, where gangs control 90 percent of the territory.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed “the importance” of Fils-Aime’s continued tenure “to combat terrorist gangs and stabilise the island”.
The council’s plan to oust Fils-Aime for reasons not made public appeared to fall to the wayside as it stepped down in an official ceremony on Saturday.
Fils-Aime now faces the daunting task of organising the first general elections in a decade.
Election this year unlikely
The Transitional Presidential Council was established in 2024 as the country’s top executive body, a response to a political crisis stretching back to the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
It quickly devolved into infighting, questions over its membership, and allegations of corruption falling overwhelmingly short of its mission to quell gang violence and improve life for Haitians.
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Just six months after being formed, the body removed Prime Minister Garry Conille, selecting Fils-Aime as his replacement.
Despite being tasked with developing a framework for federal elections, the council ended up postponing a planned series of votes that would have selected a new president by February.
Tentative dates were announced for August and December, but many believe it is unlikely an election and a run-off will be held this year.
Last year, gangs killed nearly 6,000 people in Haiti, according to the United Nations. About 1.4 million people, or 10 percent of the population, have been displaced by the violence.
The UN approved an international security force to help police restore security, but more than two years later, fewer than 1,000 of the intended troops – mostly Kenyan police – have been deployed. The UN says it aims to have 5,500 troops in the country by the middle of the year, or by November at the latest.
Warships boost US presence in Haiti ahead of key political deadline
Feb. 7 marks the end of the mandate for Haiti's nine-member Transitional Presidential Council.
Several U.S. warships deployed by the Trump administration arrived at the Bay of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, increasing global attention on Haiti during a volatile moment for its government.
According to U.S. Southern Command, the deployment of USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone, and USCGC Diligence comes under the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, as part of "Operation Southern Spear," a U.S. military campaign aimed at targeting alleged drug traffickers across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
The operation has already resulted in more than 100 deaths from boat strikes, with officials saying the goal is to curb organized crime and strengthen security in the region.
The government in Haiti is collapsing
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti described the arrival of the warships as reflecting America's "unwavering commitment to the security, stability, and a brighter future for the Republic of Haiti." While part of ongoing crime-fighting efforts, the move has also been interpreted as a strong message of support and a show of force amid escalating political tensions.
This week's developments come ahead of a critical deadline: February 7, which marks the end of the mandate for Haiti's nine-member Transitional Presidential Council. Tensions have risen steadily, especially since the council was recently hit with U.S. visa restrictions after voting to remove the current prime minister, defying calls from the U.S. government to maintain stability.
Accusations by the U.S. against senior Haitian officials for allegedly supporting gangs have added to the country's instability. The U.S. Embassy on Wednesday publicly backed the current prime minister, saying it supports his "Prime Minister Fils-Aimè's leadership in building a strong, prosperous, and free Haiti.
New York shields Haitian TPS holders with legal, legislative and emotional help
State and city leaders roll out legal monitoring, new resources, and proposed legislation to support Haitians living under Temporary Protected Status
by Loretta Chin and The Haitian Times Feb. 05, 2026
Overview:
As uncertainty continues over the future of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, New York State and City officials, joined by community leaders, are moving to protect affected residents from deportation through expanded legal support, legislative action and public resources. City officials are reaffirming sanctuary protections and access to health and emergency services regardless of immigration status, while connecting Haitian TPS holders with legal counsel and know-your-rights information.
BROOKLYN — In response to a community so stressed by the uncertainty surrounding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians where at least two people fearing immigration enforcement have died by suicide, New York state and city officials, in conjunction with community groups, are moving on multiple fronts to ensure affected residents have access to legal, health and emotional support.
From City Hall to Albany to Washington, leaders said at a news conference on Wednesday and through press statements that they are determined to protect Haitian TPS holders from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — while pursuing legal and legislative paths to make the immigrants’ status permanent.
“You are not alone,” said NYC Councilmember Farah Louis, echoing a key message heard during the press conference.“Do not self-deport and do not have fear.”
Louis, who relayed news of the suicides, and other leaders held the news conference two days after a federal judge stopped the termination of the Haiti TPS program that has allowed about 350,000 Haitians to live and work legally in the U.S., while litigation is pending. Though the judge’s decision provides sole relief, many new questions have been raised and people continue to fear ICE.
Inside Life of Hope’s offices in East Flatbush Wednesday, the speakers brought with them an array of brochures and fliers with the names and contact information for various city- and state-sponsored programs. They urged families to seek help from organizations, for everything from filing documents to grant guardianship if parents and their children were to be separated and protecting financial assets such as their business bank accounts in case of deportation.
Nadine, a Haitian TPS holder who was listening to the speakers, shared that she was wondering if her status is sufficient to work. The Haitian Times is withholding Nadine’s last name to avoid adversely affecting her immigration case.
“I need to go to work and I don’t know what to do,” she said. She learned about the resources available to her during the 2-hour event.
City pushes immigrant help hotline, other resources
In New York City, officials are emphasizing that sanctuary city laws remain in effect, even amid heightened federal immigration enforcement activity. Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), said Haitian TPS holders and other immigrants can continue to access essential services without fear.
“People have access to services regardless of immigration status,” Castro said in an interview with The Haitian Times after the event. “They should continue to access health services, our local hospital system, call 911, and use any other city services without fear of deportation.
“We’re reaching out to lawyers so people know what to do if they’re confronted by an ICE agent,” Castro added. “They have a lot of rights, and people need individualized guidance, not rumors or bad advice.”
Castro acknowledged, however, that sanctuary laws do not prevent Immigration and ICE from operating in the city. As reports of increased ICE presence circulate, MOIA has focused on education and preparedness, connecting residents with attorneys and know-your-rights information.
To reach immigrants who may not be connected to advocacy groups or elected officials, the city has expanded partnerships with nonprofits such as HAUP and Life of Hope and public institutions, including the New York City Public Library. English and language classes offered at more than 60 library branches also serve as points of information sharing.
Citywide, residents can call 311 to access immigration-related guidance and referrals.
In all, the show of support emphasizes Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s message to Haitians on Monday that he stands with the community.
The borough presidents of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens sent a joint letter this week urging Albany to pass the New York For All Act and the Access to Representation Act, which would limit cooperation with ICE and guarantee legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for congressional action during his remarks on Wednesday. “Should the conditions of the country where you are coming from not improve, we should have a path to legal citizenship for those on TPS,” he said.
State officials launch ICE observation unit
At the state level, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the launch of the Legal Observation Project, a new initiative designed to monitor and document federal immigration enforcement activity across New York. The initiative will deploy trained legal observers to locations where enforcement actions or related protests are reported, serving as neutral witnesses and preserving information that could inform future legal action.
James is also urging New Yorkers to submit videos or documentation of immigration enforcement activity through a secure online portal, adding another layer of oversight and support for impacted communities.
Meanwhile, pressure is building in Albany to pass legislation that would further limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and guarantee legal representation for immigrants facing deportation with the New York For All Act and the Access to Representation Act.
Seeking permanence and stability in DC
At the federal level, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer pointed to a recent court decision blocking the Trump administration’s effort to end TPS for Haitians as only a temporary reprieve. He reiterated his support for the SECURE Act, which would allow long-term TPS holders to apply for permanent legal status.
“Haiti is still dangerous and unstable,” Schumer said in a statement to The Haitian Times. “We must do more to oppose this administration while they continue to target and attack our neighbors. Until Haitians can return home safely and the gangs’ reign of terror subsides, I will keep fighting to allow them to remain here out of harm’s way.”
For city and state officials, the message is consistent: while courts and Congress debate the future of TPS, New York is stepping up with resources, legal protections, and public support to help Haitian families weather the uncertainty—and to make clear they are not facing it alone.