The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians, and within hours New York and Massachusetts officials were promising to fight the decision in court and in Congress. The 6-3 ruling, first reported locally by The Haitian Times, lets the Department of Homeland Security terminate the protections while legal challenges continue.
TPS is the federal designation that lets people from countries hit by war or disaster live and work in the United States legally without fear of deportation. Ending it for Haiti puts more than 350,000 Haitians who have been living and working legally in the country at risk of losing that status. Syrians covered by the program are affected too.
On June 29, New York elected officials and Haitian community organizations gathered for a community update at Life of Hope in Brooklyn, both to speak out against the ruling and to press the community to lobby Congress to act.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, speaking at a news conference after the decision, called the ruling part of what she described as one of the largest attacks on immigrants and said New York would keep standing with immigrant communities.
Attorney General Letitia James told TPS holders they were “not alone,” and told Haitian and Syrian communities they were “seen,” “valued” and that they “belong.” Her office would keep working with community organizations to inform immigrants of their legal rights, she said.
“We will continue to stand with all immigrant communities. We will continue to fight for justice. We will continue to defend the people who come to this country seeking safety and who have strengthened New York each and every day, strengthened our economy, and strengthened us as a City and as a State,” James said.
Zohran Mamdani, who The Haitian Times identified as New York City mayor, joined Hochul and James at the event and told Haitian and Syrian TPS holders that New York City remained their home.
The response ran up the coast. In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey said the state “stands with our Haitian and Syrian communities. And we always will,” and reaffirmed her administration’s support for affected families. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also denounced the decision, saying Haitian and Syrian residents deserve protection and that Boston would keep supporting immigrant families.
Advocacy groups are now pushing the fight to Capitol Hill. The National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, together with the Florida Immigrant Coalition, FANM and other organizations, condemned the ruling and renewed calls for Congress to pass legislation extending TPS protections for Haitians through 2029.
Featured image: Courtesy haitiantimes.com
