A federal judge issued a last-minute injunction on Monday, blocking the Trump administration from revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants. The protections, which allow these individuals to live and work legally in the United States, were set to expire on Tuesday.
The ruling provides an immediate reprieve for approximately 350,000 people currently living in the U.S. under this humanitarian program. Without this court intervention, these immigrants would have faced the immediate threat of deportation and the loss of their legal employment authorization.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes found that the administration's move to end the status required further legal review due to potential violations of administrative procedures. In her opinion, Judge Reyes noted it was "substantially likely" that the decision by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was motivated by hostility toward nonwhite immigrants.
The court record referenced derogatory remarks made by officials describing immigrants as "killers" and "leeches," which the judge cited as evidence of racial animus. Judge Reyes concluded that these statements undermined the government's claim that the termination was based on a neutral assessment of conditions in Haiti.
The judge’s order explicitly stated that the termination of the program is now "null, void, and of no legal effect" while the lawsuit proceeds. This decision effectively maintains the status quo, ensuring that work permits and protection from removal remain valid for the affected population.
The Department of Homeland Security had argued that conditions in Haiti had improved enough to warrant ending the designation, which was originally granted following the devastating 2010 earthquake. However, the plaintiffs successfully argued that the administration ignored overwhelming evidence of ongoing political instability and gang violence in the Caribbean nation.
Haiti is currently grappling with severe internal conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands of its own citizens, complicating any potential safe return for deportees. The judge criticized Secretary Noem for failing to consult with key diplomatic officials who had warned about these dangerous conditions on the ground.
Among the plaintiffs challenging the termination are long-term residents including a neuroscientist, a software engineer, and a registered nurse. Their lawsuit contends that the decision to strip them of their status was arbitrary and capricious, failing to account for their deep ties to American communities.
This ruling marks a significant legal setback for the Department of Homeland Security's broader immigration agenda under the current administration. Secretary Noem’s office has criticized the decision as "lawless activism" and indicated that the administration intends to appeal the injunction immediately.
Legal experts suggest that this injunction could set a precedent for other groups facing similar revocations of protected status. For now, the 350,000 Haitian TPS holders can breathe a sigh of relief as their future in the United States remains protected by the federal court.