Challenge to Trump Administration’s Proposal to Remove Temporary Protected Status

According to Border Report, the Trump administration’s proposal to remove temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti and Venezuela has been challenged in a court filing by a group of 19 attorneys general, headed by New York.

Joining New York Attorney General Letitia James in filing the brief on March 25, were attorneys general from the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Background of the Case

The recent motion filed in the federal court in Massachusetts stated, “The public interest will be harmed if Haitian and Venezuelan TPS beneficiaries are stripped of legal status.”

The Department of Homeland Security this week said it will revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, setting them up for potential deportation in about a month. The order applies to about 532,000 people from the four countries who came to the United States since October 2022.

Impact on Venezuelans and Haitians

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that 350,000 Venezuelans who had previously received an extension of these protections under the Biden administration would have their temporary protected status (TPS) lifted in April, allowing them to live and work in the United States for 18 months. This announcement prompted a lawsuit against the Trump administration from several Haitians and Venezuelans, backed by multiple nonprofit organizations.

In August, Haitians will no longer have TPS and may be deported, according to Noem.

Response from New York Attorney General

James noted, “New York is home to thousands of hardworking Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants who are members of our communities, our culture, and our economy.”

“Stripping these individuals of their legal status will not make our communities safer or stronger, it will only put immigrants and their families in harm’s way. I urge the court to block this unlawful action and uphold these potentially life-saving legal protections,” James added.

James claims that neither Haiti nor Venezuela is a safe place for these individuals to go back to, and that if they stay in the US, they won’t be able to work legally and may suffer, which might also have an adverse effect on communities.

Impact on States and Residents

“The States can speak to the irreparable harm the termination and vacatur of TPS designations in this case will inflict on the States and their residents. Unless postponed, this agency action will fracture the States’ communities and schools, damage their economies, deplete their workforces, and compromise public health and public safety within the States,” the motion claimed.

According to James, there are more than 56,000 TPS holders in New York, including 5,400 Haitian residents in the city. TPS households in New York made $2.3 billion in 2023 and paid more than $348 million in federal taxes.

Conclusion

The Trump administration’s proposal to remove temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti and Venezuela has been met with significant opposition from attorneys general and nonprofit organizations. The court’s decision will have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of immigrants and their families, as well as the communities and economies of the states where they reside.

FAQs

Q: What is temporary protected status (TPS)?

A: Temporary protected status is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries who are already in the United States.

Q: Which countries are affected by the Trump administration’s proposal?

A: The proposal affects immigrants from Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

Q: How many people will be affected by the proposal?

A: Approximately 532,000 people from the four countries who came to the United States since October 2022 will be affected.