Temporary Protected Status for Haitians Preserved by Federal Court Ruling

Wed Feb 04 2026 03:10:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge's ruling temporarily halts the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, providing crucial relief to approximately 350,000 Haitian immigrants in the U.S. The decision comes amid continued instability and violence in Haiti.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, allowing around 350,000 individuals to remain in the U.S. while legal challenges proceed. This decision brings temporary relief to the Haitian community, which has faced ongoing threats due to instability and gang violence in their home country. Department of Homeland Security criticized the ruling, asserting the decision was based on outdated claims of safety improvements in Haiti.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A recent ruling from U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, providing much-needed reprieve for those who have been living in the U.S. since the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. The TPS designation, which allows approximately 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S., was set to expire on Tuesday.

Judge Reyes granted a request to pause the termination of TPS as a lawsuit challenging the administration's decision continues. We can breathe for a little bit, said Rose-Thamar Joseph, operations director at the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has contended that conditions in Haiti have improved and cited a determination that renewed TPS was not in the national interest. Despite these claims, many Haitian immigrants express concern over ongoing violence and instability in their home country.

In her ruling, Judge Reyes indicated that the lawsuit could potentially succeed, highlighting issues of racial animus in the administration's decision-making process regarding TPS. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin vehemently criticized the ruling, labeling it as lawless activism and arguing that TPS has been misused as an amnesty program.

The decision held significant implications not only for current TPS holders but also for the climate of immigration policy under the Trump administration, which has aggressively pursued deportation efforts.

Amidst fears of increased enforcement actions, communities like Springfield, which is home to roughly 15,000 Haitians, have mobilized in support of those affected, emphasizing the dire circumstances many would face if forced to return to Haiti.