Judge Halts Noem’s Move to End Haitian TPS Protections

A federal judge in Washington stopped Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from ending Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 Haitians in the U.S. The ruling came on Monday, just before the protections were due to expire on Tuesday. Judge Ana Reyes said the move was likely illegal because Noem did not follow required steps, including talking to other agencies about conditions in Haiti.

Background

Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, lets people from countries hit by war, disasters, or other dangers stay and work in the U.S. legally for a set time. Haiti got TPS after a big earthquake in 2010 damaged the country badly. Over the years, leaders from both parties have extended it as problems there kept going, like gang violence and shaky government.

When Donald Trump took office again, Noem became head of Homeland Security. She started moves to end TPS for several countries, including Haiti and Venezuela. She said conditions in those places had gotten better and it was time to wrap up the program. But groups suing the government said Noem broke the law by not checking facts properly and rushing the choices.

Haitians with TPS live across the U.S., including in places like Springfield, Ohio. Many work in jobs like caregiving and send money home to family. Losing TPS could mean they have to leave or face deportation. This fight is part of bigger changes under the Trump team to cut immigration programs they see as too long-running.

Courts have stepped in before on similar issues. Just weeks ago, a federal appeals court said Noem went too far in ending TPS for Venezuelans. That court also backed a lower judge's view on Haiti. These cases show judges looking close at whether Noem has the power to make these calls alone.

Key Details

Judge Reyes wrote an 83-page decision laying out her reasons. She said people suing were likely to win because Noem seemed to decide to end TPS before looking at all the facts. The judge pointed to Noem's own words after announcing the plan. Three days later, Noem talked about a travel ban from Haiti and other countries, calling people from there killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.

Reyes said Noem had to consult other agencies on Haiti's safety, but did almost none of that. When the court asked, government lawyers admitted no real talks happened with others. The judge called this a big problem under the law that sets up TPS.

“We can breathe for a little bit,” said Rose-Thamar Joseph, operations director at the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio.

The ruling pauses the end of TPS while the full lawsuit goes on. It makes Noem's order null for now. Reyes, appointed by President Joe Biden, said secretaries do not have total freedom. They must base choices on real checks of dangers back home.

Other Recent Court Blocks

This is not the first time courts have stopped Noem. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower ruling that Noem broke rules in ending Venezuelan TPS. Judges there said the law does not let her wipe out protections on her own. They noted real harm to families, with some deportations already happening after losing status.

One judge on that panel, Salvador Mendoza Jr., wrote there was clear evidence of bias against people from certain countries. He said Noem's reasons looked like cover for set ideas about immigrants from Venezuela and Haiti.

Noem also faced blocks on other fronts. A different federal judge stopped her from making Congress give seven days' notice before visiting immigration detention centers. This came after Democratic lawmakers, including from Minnesota, got turned away from an ICE facility. The judge said Noem tried to dodge rules by using special funds, but that would not work.

Homeland Security pushed back. A spokeswoman called these judge orders activist and said TPS was never meant to last forever. They argue Noem has wide power and courts should not second-guess her.

What This Means

For now, 350,000 Haitians keep their legal status to live and work in the U.S. This gives them time without fear of quick deportation. Families in places like Springfield can keep jobs and school for kids. But the pause is temporary. The full case will decide if TPS ends for good.

The ruling adds to legal pressure on Noem's immigration plans. She has tried to end TPS for 12 countries so far, all turned down. Courts keep saying she must follow steps set by Congress, like checking threats to life and talking to experts. Government lawyers say they will appeal, as they did in other cases.

Broader effects touch communities nationwide. Haitian caregivers, factory workers, and others fill key roles. Losing them could hurt local businesses and services. In Ohio, groups are rallying to support the community amid fears.

Lawmakers from both sides watch close. Democrats say these blocks protect oversight and rights. Republicans call them roadblocks to fixing borders. As appeals climb, possibly to the Supreme Court, the fight shapes how TPS works long-term.

Noem's team says Haiti conditions have improved enough, pointing to less earthquake fallout after 15 years. But plaintiffs note gangs control much of the capital, with killings and hunger still common. Safe return stays hard for many.

This back-and-forth shows deep splits on immigration. One side sees TPS as needed mercy for tough spots. The other views it as a magnet drawing too many. Court wins for challengers slow changes, but final outcomes could shift rules for other countries too.