Related videos:
A federal judge , a measure initiated by the administration of President Donald Trump that was set to expire this Tuesday.
In an 83-page ruling, Judge Ana Reyes of the District Court of Columbia granted the request of five Haitian beneficiaries to temporarily block the termination of the program while the case continues in the courts, reported CNN.
The TPS allows its holders to live and work legally in the United States and was set to expire following the cancellation order issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The lawsuit alleges discriminatory motives
The plaintiffs challenged the DHS decision, claiming that the agency did not conduct the required review to determine whether Haiti was a safe country for the return of the beneficiaries before canceling the protection.
The lawsuit also claims that the measure was motivated, at least in part, by an alleged "racial, ethnic, and national origin animosity" from President Trump towards Haitians.
Reyes harshly criticized DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for referring to immigrants — including Haitians — on social media as "murderers, leeches, or addicted to social rights."
"The plaintiffs claim that Secretary Noem predetermined her decision... due to her hostility towards non-white immigrants. This seems quite probable," wrote the judge.
Reyes cites disparaging remarks from Trump
In her ruling, the magistrate also recalled several comments made by President Trump regarding Haiti, including offensive references and conspiracy theories promoted during his campaign.
The court considered that these public statements could reflect an undue bias in immigration decisions with significant human impact.
Haitians, key players in essential labor sectors
The Haitian beneficiaries of TPS are a crucial part of industries such as elder care, hospitals, and community services across the country.
Immigrant advocacy organizations celebrated the ruling:
"We are the backbone of entire industries… we care for the elderly, we work in hospitals and schools," stated Aline Gue, director of Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees.
DHS announces legal battle
The Trump administration reacted firmly to the ruling. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused the judge of “illegal activism” and announced that they would appeal to the Supreme Court.
"Temporary means temporary, and the final word will not come from an activist judge legislating from the bench," he wrote on X.
Context: other TPS also under dispute
The Haitian case adds to a series of recent judicial decisions that have halted the DHS's attempts to terminate TPS for countries such as Venezuela, Honduras, Nepal, and South Sudan.
In the Venezuelan case, a federal appeals court ruled last week that the Trump administration acted illegally by terminating the program, although the Supreme Court allowed the decision to take effect while the process is being resolved.
Haiti remains in deep crisis
TPS was originally granted to Haitians after the devastating earthquake in 2010 and has been repeatedly renewed due to the extreme conditions in the country: armed gang violence, food insecurity, mass displacement, and an institutional vacuum since the assassination of the president in 2021.
Filed under: