Court Blocks Move to End Haitian Protected Status — For Now
A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians legally living and working in the U.S.
The move is a lifeline for the many families whose status, which permits them to legally work and live in the U.S., was under threat to end on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
In 2025, a lawsuit was filed by five Haitian TPS holders, and the order was postponed pending those results, according to The Hill. The ruling pauses a plan that would’ve threatened the upheaval of countless Haitian communities throughout the country.
Judge Ana Reyes issued the temporary stay that prevents the US homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, from implementing the decision.
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows people stay in the U.S. if their home country is overwhelmed by conflict, natural disasters, or other crises.
In 2010, Haiti first received TPS after the devastating 2010 earthquake and has remained on the list as the country has struggled with political chaos, gang violence, and economic collapse. Ending that protection now could expose hundreds of thousands to deportation, although many immigrants have started families, careers, and built their lives in the U.S.
In blocking the revocation, the judge signaled that the administration’s move may have overstepped the law and failed to acknowledge current conditions in Haiti. The ruling keeps TPS and work authorizations in place as the lawsuit continues, meaning Haitian TPS holders can keep showing up to their jobs, paying rent, and sending kids to school...for now.
"If the termination stands, people will almost certainly die," attorneys for Haitian TPS holders wrote in a court filing, the Guardian reports. "Some will likely be killed, others will likely die from disease, and yet others will likely starve to death."
While the ruling is a moment of relief for many, people are still living with constant uncertainty, knowing that another court decision — or a future administration — could change everything again.
