Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has expressed concerns over what he describes as the abuse of America’s immigration system by foreigners. He argues that this issue is placing a burden on small towns like Charleroi, Pennsylvania, which has seen an increase in Haitian residents. Cortes shared his views with SW PA News.
“Temporary status for migrants should not last for years, and even decades,” said Cortes. “America’s generosity has been systemically abused, by domestic leftists and by foreigners who game our system. Even Barack Obama conceded that being from a poor or crime-ridden place does not qualify for asylum in America, nor should it. It’s time for Biden’s invasion to reverse, including these masses of Haitians that have become so burdensome to small communities like Charleroi, PA where I filmed a documentary on this very topic.”
Cortes’s comments were made in response to an announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. The DHS announced that TPS for Haiti will expire on August 3, 2025, with termination taking effect on September 2, 2025. According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, improved conditions in Haiti mean the country no longer meets TPS requirements. This decision was made after consultations with U.S. agencies and a review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A spokesperson for DHS said in a press release: “This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary.” The spokesperson added that environmental conditions in Haiti have improved sufficiently to allow Haitian citizens to return home safely and encouraged them to use DHS resources such as the CBP Home app or pursue lawful U.S. immigration status if eligible.
In October 2024, Cortes conducted interviews with residents of Charleroi about their experiences with the influx of illegal immigrants into their town. “Great American towns like Charleroi, Pennsylvania are being destroyed by globalism and illegal immigration,” Cortes posted on X. “Working class citizens have been sold out by Kamala Harris while illegals are prioritized.”
According to SW PA News, Cortes interviewed Ernie Merritt, a candidate for Mayor of Charleroi, for his documentary. Merritt expressed concerns about the changes in the town: “It seems like our town is being taken over. It’s like they’re displacing and replacing the locals.” He noted a reported 2,000% increase in population mentioned by President Trump at a September rally but clarified that immigrants were not at fault; rather, he accused Washington of “exploiting them.” Merritt indicated that this situation was affecting job prospects for Charleroi residents and had led to business closures and job losses.
Steve Cortes serves as president of the League of American Workers and senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He has previously worked as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and has been a commentator for Fox News and CNN.