The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Haitians and Syrians, concluding that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has broad authority to decide when countries no longer qualify for the humanitarian program, with only limited scope for judicial review. Get today's headlines by email In a 6-3 decision issued on Thursday, the court found that federal judges generally cannot overturn DHS decisions to terminate TPS designations. The ruling is expected to affect not only Haitians and Syrians but also sets a precedent that could allow the administration to proceed with similar actions involving immigrants from 13 other countries. Court says DHS has broad authorityWriting for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the law governing TPS leaves little room for courts to challenge the government's decisions on ending a country's designation. TPS, created under the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary temporary conditions to live and work legally in the United States while conditions remain unsafe. Alito wrote that the statute "allows no judicial review" of DHS determinations regarding the termination of TPS designations, except for constitutional claims. He concluded that Congress intended to give the executive branch primary authority over those decisions. Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival welcomed the ruling, saying TPS was intended to be temporary and arguing that some designations had effectively become permanent. Advocates warn of humanitarian consequencesImmigration advocates and attorneys representing Haitian plaintiffs condemned the decision, warning that it could expose thousands of people to serious danger if they are forced to return to Haiti. Lawyers Geoffrey Pipoly and Andrew Tauber said the ruling would put Haitian TPS holders at risk after they left their country seeking safety. They urged Congress to approve legislation extending TPS protections, although the measure's prospects remain uncertain because President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for ending the program. Advocacy groups also warned the decision could have far-reaching consequences for roughly 1.3 million people currently living and working in the United States under TPS protections. Liberal justices dissentThe court's three liberal justices strongly disagreed with the majority. Justice Elena Kagan argued that lower courts should be able to review whether DHS followed the legal procedures required to terminate TPS status. She also cited statements made by Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign about Haitians, arguing that the plaintiffs had presented evidence suggesting racial bias may have influenced the administration's actions. Lower courts had previously blocked former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's decisions to end TPS for Haiti and Syria, finding that the department may not have followed proper procedures and could have engaged in unlawful discrimination. Impact on Haitian communitiesThe ruling comes despite continuing instability in both countries. Haiti has faced years of political turmoil, gang violence and repeated natural disasters since the devastating 2010 earthquake. Syria remains affected by the long-running civil war and worsening humanitarian conditions following a major earthquake in 2023. More than 113,000 Haitian TPS holders live and work in Florida, while over 10,000 reside in Ohio, many in the Springfield area. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, criticized the decision, calling the deportation of Haitians "a mistake." He said the ruling would immediately leave thousands of legally employed residents vulnerable to deportation while disrupting local employers and communities. Springfield pastor Carl Ruby, who has supported the city's Haitian community, also criticized the ruling, saying he believed race had influenced the administration's actions and describing the outcome as deeply disappointing. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 26 June 2026
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