US Supreme Court clears way for Trump to end protections for Haitian, Syrian immigrants

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration may legally terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti and Syria, a decision that could affect hundreds of thousands of people living in the country.

TPS allows individuals from designated countries to live and work in the US for up to 18 months, with possible extensions. During that period, they cannot be removed or detained solely based on their immigration status. The US first granted TPS to Haitians after a devastating earthquake in 2010 and to Syrians following the outbreak of civil war in 2012.

In the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the law governing TPS clearly prevents courts from reviewing government decisions to end such designations. He also stated that the Haitian plaintiffs were unlikely to prove that the administration's actions were racially discriminatory or violated constitutional equal-protection rights under the Fifth Amendment.

The three liberal justices dissented. Justice Elena Kagan argued that the government's decision to end protections was motivated by racial bias. She wrote that statements from the administration 'fairly shout, in their racial undertones and overtones alike, that race entered into the President's resolve to remove Haitians from this country.'

The Trump administration welcomed the ruling. James Percival, general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, posted on X: 'The T in TPS stands for TEMPORARY, yet many of these designations became de facto amnesty. This is a win for the rule of law and common sense.'

During his 2024 campaign, Trump amplified false rumours about Haitian immigrants, including claims that they were abducting and eating pets. The Supreme Court ruling now clears the way for the administration to remove legal protections for TPS recipients, potentially subjecting them to deportation.

Advocates for immigrants expressed alarm. Jill Habig, CEO of Public Rights Project, which filed amicus briefs on behalf of 47 local governments, said the decision 'puts hundreds of thousands of people at risk.' She warned of a coming community crisis: 'Families will be separated, local economies will take a hit and people will be forced back to countries in the grip of violence, instability and humanitarian collapse. The human cost will be felt all across America.'

The ruling could also affect TPS holders from other countries, as it affirms the administration's broad authority to end such protections without judicial review.