Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of 350,000 Haitians Amidst Violence

A U.S. federal judge has halted the Trump administration's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians, preventing their deportation. The ruling came as a response to a lawsuit aiming to stop exposing Haitians to potential violence in their homeland. TPS provides work authorization and temporary relief from deportation.

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 350,000 Haitians, safeguarding them from deportation amid ongoing violence in Haiti. The decision, made by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, counters the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's efforts to end legal protections for these individuals.

The ruling follows a class action lawsuit filed by Haitians to prevent their exposure to potential peril if deported. TPS offers migrants from crisis-stricken countries temporary relief and work authorization. Initially designated for Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, TPS has been repeatedly extended, with the Biden administration most recently extending it through February 2026.

This judicial decision serves as a significant setback to Donald Trump's immigration policies, which sought to reduce the number of countries eligible for TPS. Despite the ongoing crises in Haiti, including gang violence and a lack of governance, Homeland Security had moved to truncate the status, deeming the conditions no longer extraordinary.

(With inputs from agencies.)