A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden has lifted a court-ordered block that prevented the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians.
The move clears the way for the administration to proceed after a Supreme Court ruling limited courts’ ability to halt TPS terminations.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued the order Wednesday after the Supreme Court ruled in June that courts could not prevent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary from ending TPS designations.
The ruling affects an estimated 330,000 to 350,000 Haitian nationals who had been protected under the program.
TPS provides temporary legal protections and work authorization to foreign nationals from countries designated by the federal government as unsafe for return because of conditions such as armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances.
Haiti was first granted TPS following a devastating earthquake in 2010, and the designation was repeatedly extended by multiple administrations.
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision cleared the way for the Trump administration to proceed with ending TPS protections for Haitian nationals.
Reyes said TPS protections were no longer in effect but allowed attorneys representing Haitian TPS holders to continue pursuing claims alleging the termination violated constitutional protection, according to News From the States.
The Trump administration has argued that TPS was intended to be temporary and that continued protections should depend on whether conditions in designated countries still justify the program.
The decision marks a significant step in the administration’s broader effort to end temporary immigration protections for nationals from multiple countries.
DHS has described TPS as a temporary humanitarian program rather than a permanent immigration pathway.
The end of TPS means affected Haitian nationals could lose their work authorization and may become subject to immigration enforcement if they do not have another lawful basis to remain in the United States, according to The Washington Post.
Some individuals may qualify for other forms of immigration relief, including pending asylum claims or other legal protections.
Opponents of the administration’s move have argued that Haiti remains unsafe for returns because of widespread gang violence, kidnappings, and political instability.
The State Department currently maintains a “do not travel” advisory for Haiti due to security concerns.
The legal battle has also centered on claims that the administration’s decision violated the Constitution’s equal protection guarantees.
Attorneys representing Haitian TPS holders have pointed to statements made by President Donald Trump while campaigning as evidence of discriminatory intent, while administration officials have rejected those allegations.
The ruling could affect industries that have relied on Haitian TPS holders, including health care, food service, caregiving, retail, and warehousing.
The administration has argued that ending TPS will restore the temporary nature of the program, prevent temporary protections from becoming long-term status, and allow employers to hire from the American workforce to fill open positions.
The Supreme Court’s decision could also affect other TPS cases involving nationals from additional countries.
The court determined that federal law largely limits the ability of judges to block the executive branch from ending TPS designations, strengthening the administration’s authority to carry out those decisions.
While Wednesday’s order removes the legal barrier preventing the administration from ending Haiti TPS, additional litigation over the administration’s motives and constitutional claims is expected to continue.
