A federal judge has issued a temporary stay halting the Trump administration's plan to strip Haitians of their protected status, which would have left hundreds of thousands of people vulnerable to deportation. The decision, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was met with criticism after she referred to those seeking refuge in the US as "killers, leeches, or entitlement junkies". In reality, the five plaintiffs who challenged the order are individuals with various professions and backgrounds, including a neuroscientist researching Alzheimer's disease.
Judge Ana Reyes found it "substantially likely" that Noem preordained her termination decision due to "hostility to nonwhite immigrants". The judge noted that the conditions in Haiti, which is currently plagued by gang violence, still pose a significant threat to the safety of its citizens. Despite the Department of Homeland Security claiming that conditions have improved, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the situation remains dire.
The termination of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would have left hundreds of thousands of people without a legal pathway to live and work in the US. The move is part of the Trump administration's wider efforts to increase deportations, with similar terminations already implemented for Venezuelans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Ukrainians, and individuals from Afghanistan and Cameroon.
The decision has been welcomed by advocacy groups, who argue that it will prevent widespread harm to Haitian communities. "If the termination stands, people will almost certainly die," attorneys for Haitian TPS holders wrote in a court filing. The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Judge Ana Reyes found it "substantially likely" that Noem preordained her termination decision due to "hostility to nonwhite immigrants". The judge noted that the conditions in Haiti, which is currently plagued by gang violence, still pose a significant threat to the safety of its citizens. Despite the Department of Homeland Security claiming that conditions have improved, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the situation remains dire.
The termination of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would have left hundreds of thousands of people without a legal pathway to live and work in the US. The move is part of the Trump administration's wider efforts to increase deportations, with similar terminations already implemented for Venezuelans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Ukrainians, and individuals from Afghanistan and Cameroon.
The decision has been welcomed by advocacy groups, who argue that it will prevent widespread harm to Haitian communities. "If the termination stands, people will almost certainly die," attorneys for Haitian TPS holders wrote in a court filing. The Associated Press contributed reporting.