A federal judge halted the termination of protections for around 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S., dealing a legal blow to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington granted a request to pause the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians pending a lawsuit challenging the decision. The termination, scheduled for the following day, was deemed null and void by the judge.
Judge Reyes, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, stated that plaintiffs had a strong likelihood of success in their case. She also suggested that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem may have been influenced by racial bias in her decision to end TPS for Haitians. The ruling provides temporary relief to Haitians, although the next legal steps remain uncertain.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the judge’s decision as “lawless activism.” The agency argued that Haiti’s TPS, initially granted after an earthquake over 15 years ago, was not meant to be an amnesty program. TPS allows individuals to reside and work in the U.S. due to unsafe conditions in their home countries, but it does not offer a path to citizenship.
Haiti’s TPS designation was first activated in 2010 following a devastating earthquake and has been extended multiple times. The country faces significant challenges, including gang violence and political instability, casting doubts on its ability to hold elections. The termination of TPS could have severe consequences, including potential loss of life among affected individuals.
The court criticized Secretary Noem for not consulting with relevant officials and agencies before making the termination decision. The judge highlighted that the plaintiffs in the case were professionals, not criminals as portrayed by Noem. The ruling’s reprieve was welcomed by supporters in Ohio, where Haitian migrants faced an uncertain future due to the TPS termination.
The Trump administration has been aggressive in ending temporary protections for various groups, increasing the risk of deportation for many individuals. Besides Haitians, protections have been terminated for Venezuelans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Nepalese, Ukrainians, Afghans, and Cameroonians, leading to legal challenges in several cases.