President Donald Trump achieved a significant win in the realm of immigration on Wednesday. A federal judge acknowledged that a previous court order blocking the administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for many Haitians is no longer applicable. This follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in Mullin v. Doe.
For years, the issue of TPS for Haitians spurred legal battles. The Biden administration’s expansion of Haiti’s TPS designation became a target for Trump. He challenged these expansions, making the topic a central issue for the 2024 election. Both Trump and JD Vance blamed the influx of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, on these policies, citing local concerns over traffic, public services, and community tensions.
“Blue state leaders erupted after the Supreme Court’s decision ending TPS protections for Haitians, Syrians.”
On the same day, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes stated that her earlier order stopping the Department of Homeland Security from terminating Haiti’s TPS designation is no longer in effect. This follows the Supreme Court’s decision and the subsequent mandate from the D.C. Circuit. Although the lawsuit continues, the injunction no longer prevents the administration from phasing out protections for an estimated 330,000 to 350,000 Haitians in the U.S. Remaining legal discussions focus on whether racial bias played a role in the termination decision.
The Supreme Court ruled in June that decisions to terminate TPS designations are not subject to judicial review unless constitutional issues are present. This conclusion reversed earlier court decisions and sent the case back for further action. DHS General Counsel James Percival disputed claims that the judge’s order ended TPS for Haitians. He clarified that TPS expired following the Supreme Court’s July mandate.
Haiti was granted TPS after the 2010 earthquake, retaining the designation for years across multiple administrations. The Biden administration later expanded these protections. However, after reviewing conditions in Haiti, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined the conditions no longer met TPS requirements, sparking a legal contest that ultimately reached the Supreme Court.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, DHS announced the official termination of Haiti’s TPS designation on July 27. Employment authorization documents under this designation also expired. Employers were advised to reverify affected employees’ work authorization.
The State Department currently advises against travel to Haiti due to prevalent gang violence, kidnappings, and civil unrest.