Last Tuesday evening brought a moment of relief many had been holding their breath for. In a decisive ruling, D.C. Circuit Court Judge Ana Reyes blocked the Department of Homeland Security’s attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. Her opinion stated plainly what has been evident for some time: the effort to end TPS was preordained and rooted in blatant racism.
350,000 Haitian nationals would have faced deportation after February 3rd to a country still unable to guarantee their safety. By halting the termination, Judge Reyes ensured that Haitians with TPS can continue to live and work legally in the United States, at least for now.
The threat from the administration remains very real, and everyone expects an appeal. The key question is how that appeal will unfold. Will DHS follow the standard appeals process, which could take anywhere from six months to two years? Or will it attempt to fast-track the case through the Supreme Court’s emergency “shadow docket”? In the latter scenario, the Haitian community could be granted only a few days of temporary reprieve.
Quixote Center, alongside our allies, is monitoring the situation closely and standing in solidarity with the Haitian community. Prior to the ruling, we were all anticipating ICE raids targeting Haitians, particularly in Springfield, Ohio, which is home to roughly 15,000 Haitian nationals, most living under TPS. It is critical that authorities now fully comply with Judge Reyes’ decision, and we were relieved to notice the USCIS website update stating that the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under the TPS designation of Haiti is extended per court order. Miot et al. v. Trump et al.
We are also following Representative Ayanna Pressley’s ongoing discharge petition, which needs 218 signatures in the House of Representatives, and offers another potential pathway toward the safety, stability, and dignity that Haitian families deserve. We invite you to call your Representative to ask them to sign on. You can call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be forwarded to the correct office.
The ruling is a victory, but vigilance, advocacy, and solidarity remain essential.
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