Federal Judge Stays Termination of Immigration Protections for Haitians

Tue Feb 03 2026 20:54:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal court ruling has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, allowing thousands to remain in the U.S amid ongoing challenges in their home country.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a stay against the Trump administration's decision to terminate TPS for Haitians, originally granted following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The ruling, viewed as a reprieve by many within the Haitian community in the U.S., allows roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work legally while the lawsuit proceeds. Advocates express relief but stress that further legal battles await. The Department of Homeland Security continues to insist that conditions in Haiti have improved, a claim that many in the Haitian community dispute.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Haitians living in the U.S. received a temporary reprieve following a federal judge's ruling to block the Trump administration's efforts to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) originally established after the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes granted an emergency stay on Monday, allowing the TPS for Haitians to remain intact while a lawsuit against the administration's decision unfolds. The TPS designation was set to expire on Tuesday.

Rose-Thamar Joseph, director of the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio, called the ruling a relief. We can breathe for a little bit, she said, noting the impact of the designation on approximately 350,000 Haitians residing in the U.S.

TPS allows these individuals to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation due to unsafe conditions in their home country caused by natural disasters or ongoing violence. However, it does not offer a legal path to citizenship.

In her opinion, Reyes articulated that the plaintiffs had a substantial likelihood of success in their legal argument, stating that the termination of TPS was influenced by racial bias against nonwhite immigrants. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin rejected the ruling, labeling it as lawless activism.

McLaughlin argued that the TPS provisions were never intended as a long-term solution but rather a temporary relief measure in times of crisis. The debate continues on whether conditions in Haiti, characterized by gang violence and instability, warrant the continuation of these protections.

The Haitian community expressed deep concern about potential immigration sweeps if TPS was discontinued, reflecting fears of roundups against individuals who may no longer have legal status. Despite the uncertainties, the stay grants a temporary buffer as advocates push for a permanent resolution to the fragile status of thousands of Haitians living in the U.S. amidst ongoing challenges in Haiti.