Haitians who have been in the U.S. for years under Temporary Protected Status can apply for permanent residence or for a temporary visa, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Sunday.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Mullin defended the Trump administration's decision to end TPS for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Haiti and Syria after the Supreme Court ruled the administration has the authority to terminate the program.

"Temporary Protected Status was never intended to be permanent," Mullin said, noting that many recipients have lived in the United States for 15, 20, or even 30 years and have had opportunities to pursue other legal immigration pathways.

Mullin said TPS recipients can still apply for lawful permanent residence or temporary visas if they qualify.

"These individuals have a couple of choices," he told host Jake Tapper.

"They can try to apply for a permanent residence here, they can apply for a temporary visa if they choose to, or they can choose to go back," Mullin said.

He added that the administration would assist those who voluntarily return to their home countries by providing airfare and roughly $2,100 to help them reestablish themselves.

However, Mullin stressed that approval for permanent status is not automatic.

Applicants with felony convictions, pending criminal charges, or those who have become dependent on taxpayer-funded social programs may not qualify, he said.

Those who have worked and followed U.S. immigration laws could be eligible, but each case would be reviewed individually.

"You have to go through the regular steps that every other immigrant that wants to come to the country legally has to go through," Mullin said.

Tapper repeatedly questioned whether Haiti is safe enough for deportations, citing State Department travel advisories, U.N. statistics, and widespread gang violence.

Mullin responded that the State Department's Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning is aimed at protecting American travelers, not Haitians returning home.

"That advisory is to American citizens traveling to Haiti, not Haitians going back home," he said.

He added that decisions on TPS are made jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and President Donald Trump after considering multiple factors.

Mullin also argued that rebuilding troubled countries ultimately requires their own citizens.

"It takes the people of Haiti to win their country back," he said, adding, "If we really want those countries to succeed, then they need the best of the best to be back in their country."

The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling on Thursday allows the administration to move forward with ending TPS protections for roughly 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians while broader legal challenges continue.

The Trump administration has argued the program was always intended to be temporary and should not become a permanent immigration status.