On Monday, February 2nd, a federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Haitians residing in the United States. The order allows recipients to continue working and protects them from deportation while a lawsuit challenging the decision moves forward.
In Washington, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes granted the emergency request, finding that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their lawsuit. In her 83-page ruling, she wrote that it was “substantially likely” that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had predetermined the decision due to “hostility to nonwhite immigrants” and emphasized that Noem was required to consult with other federal agencies before ending the designation.
TPS provides legal status and work authorization for immigrants from countries facing unsafe conditions, including natural disasters and armed conflict, but does not grant eligibility for U.S. citizenship. Haiti first received TPS following the 2010 earthquake and has maintained the designation amid ongoing gang violence, political instability, and other crises. Attorneys representing TPS holders warned that terminating the program could put lives at risk due to threats of violence, food insecurity, and disease.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the administration’s original plan, arguing that conditions in Haiti have improved. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, “It was never intended to be a de facto amnesty program, yet that’s how previous administrations have used it for decades.” The temporary reprieve ensures that Haitians with TPS can continue their daily lives while the court evaluates the broader legal challenge.
