A federal judge has cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 350,000 Haitians living in the US, removing their protection from deportation and work authorization after a months-long legal battle.According to CNN, US District Judge Ana Reyes on Wednesday formally lifted an earlier order that had temporarily blocked the administration’s move after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the government could proceed with ending TPS for Haitians.The latest order resolves uncertainty over when the protections would officially expire.
What the ruling means
With the order now in effect, Haitian TPS holders who have not secured another legal immigration status can no longer legally work in the US and may face detention and deportation.The Department of Homeland Security has requested affected migrants to leave voluntarily, warning that those who do not self-deport could be arrested and removed.CNN reported that some Haitians have already been called into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices, where they were fitted with ankle monitors as authorities prepare for enforcement.The lawsuit itself is not over. Attorneys representing Haitian migrants continue to argue that the administration acted with discriminatory intent in ending the protections, though the Supreme Court said the evidence presented so far did not support that claim.
Haiti remains under a travel warning
The ruling comes despite continued warnings from the US State Department about the security situation in Haiti, where armed gangs control large parts of the country and violence has forced thousands to flee their homes.TPS was first granted to Haitians after the devastating 2010 earthquake and was repeatedly extended because of political instability, natural disasters and worsening humanitarian conditions.
Elder care industry braces for worker shortage
The decision is also expected to affect sectors that rely heavily on Haitian workers, particularly elder care.Some nursing homes and long-term care providers have already begun terminating Haitian employees after their work authorisation expired.Westminster Communities of Florida said it had dismissed 12 Haitian TPS holders working as certified nursing assistants, dining staff and housekeepers, replacing them with temporary workers where necessary.Industry officials warned that replacing experienced caregivers will be difficult, particularly as the US faces growing demand for elder care workers. Many providers also noted that residents had built long-standing relationships with Haitian staff.According to immigration advocacy group FWD.us, nearly 190,000 Haitian TPS holders were employed in the US in early 2025, contributing an estimated $5.9 billion to the economy and paying around $1.6 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
Leave a Reply