Judge temporarily blocks removal of Haitians' protected status

A federal judge issued a temporary stay blocking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision to end Temporary Protected Status for up to 350,000 Haitians, and the judge said the termination is null and void while the stay remains in place.

A federal judge issued a temporary stay that prevents the Department of Homeland Security from implementing a decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The order was issued by Judge Ana Reyes and keeps current protections for TPS holders in place while the case moves through court. TPS allows people from countries judged unsafe to return to live and work in the United States but does not create a path to citizenship. In an accompanying opinion, the judge said plaintiffs were likely to prevail and questioned the motives behind the termination. Key points: - Judge Ana Reyes granted a temporary stay blocking Secretary Kristi Noem's termination of Haitian TPS. - The two-page order said the termination is null, void and of no legal effect during the stay, preserving work authorization and protections from detention and deportation for now. - In an 83-page opinion, the judge wrote that plaintiffs are likely to succeed and found it substantially likely that the termination was preordained because of hostility to nonwhite immigrants. - The case was brought by five Haitian TPS holders; the judge noted their lawful presence and employment while describing the plaintiffs' roles. Summary: The court order preserves TPS protections for Haitian holders while litigation continues and prevents immediate loss of work authorization or protection from removal. Undetermined at this time.