The US Supreme Court on June 25, 2026, cleared the way for the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants, a 6-3 decision that overturned blocks imposed by lower courts. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, determined that federal law precludes judicial review of the executive branch’s TPS termination decisions and that the Haitian plaintiffs failed to establish a viable claim of racial discrimination under the Fifth Amendment. The ruling affects individuals who have relied on the program for legal work authorization and deportation protection amid unsafe conditions in their home countries.
According to NPR’s reporting on the case, the majority opinion gave the benefit of the doubt to the administration despite past statements by Trump regarding Haiti. Dissenting Justice Elena Kagan highlighted specific comments attributed to the president, including references to Haiti as a “filthy, dirty, disgusting s-hole country” and claims about “poisoning the blood of the country.” Kagan argued the TPS beneficiaries should remain in the United States while their legal challenges proceed to avoid life-threatening harm.
Congressional Research Service figures from March 2025 show 330,735 Haitian nationals and 3,860 Syrian nationals holding TPS at that time, though some estimates place the Haitian total closer to 350,000. The program, established under a 1990 law, grants renewable 18-month periods of protection to those from nations facing natural disasters or armed conflicts where return is deemed unsafe. TPS for Haiti originated following the 2010 earthquake, and for Syria after the 2012 civil war, according to immigration policy overviews from the American Immigration Council.
The decision has prompted strong reactions from immigrant advocacy organizations and affected communities. Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, called the ruling inhumane and said it would rip families and communities apart by forcing returns to extremely dangerous situations. Viles Dorsainvil of the Haitian Support Center described it as shocking news that places thousands of families in immediate fear, noting that Haiti remains unsafe.
In addition to the TPS case, the Supreme Court issued a companion 6-3 ruling reviving a 2016 Trump policy that bars asylum applications for migrants who have not yet physically entered the United States from the Mexican border. An attorney representing an advocacy group countered that asylum protections apply as soon as individuals reach a port of entry. The paired decisions signal a significant expansion of executive authority in immigration enforcement.
Haitian TPS recipients are heavily concentrated in states like Florida, New York and Massachusetts, with many employed in healthcare and other essential services that support US citizen families. FWD.us analysis has estimated that TPS holders nationwide live with hundreds of thousands of American citizen relatives and contribute billions to the economy through their labor. The termination process is expected to unfold over coming months as current designations expire, potentially leading to increased deportation proceedings.
