Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Ending Haitian Temporary Protected Status Early

A federal judge has blocked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s attempt to cut short Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for more than 500,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States.

Noem had planned to end the TPS designation on Sept. 2—several months ahead of the timeline set by Congress, which extends protections until Aug. 3. 

However, U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan ruled on Tuesday that Noem overstepped her authority by trying to change a statutory deadline.

Judge Cogan, an appointee of former President George W. Bush who was confirmed to the federal bench in 2006, is known for his careful and thorough approach to legal interpretation.

In his ruling, Cogan emphasized that TPS designations are controlled by statute and cannot be modified unilaterally by the executive branch. 

He wrote that “Secretary Noem lacks the statutory or inherent power to partially vacate TPS designations,” deeming the move unlawful and beyond her jurisdiction.

TPS is a humanitarian program created to shield illegal immigrants from deportation when conditions in their home countries—such as war, political instability or natural disasters—make it unsafe for them to return. 

Haiti has been under TPS since 2011 due to devastating hurricanes and ongoing political turmoil, according to the Daily Mail.

DHS argued that conditions in Haiti have improved enough to warrant ending TPS protections early. 

The agency also urged TPS recipients to take advantage of voluntary return programs, which offer incentives such as a $1,000 payment through the Customs and Border Protection Home app.

Despite DHS’s arguments, Judge Cogan found that the benefits provided to Haitian nationals living legally in the U.S. under TPS “far outweigh” the government’s interest in ending the protections before the congressional deadline. 

This ruling comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding immigration enforcement. 

Earlier this week, President Trump, Noem, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis toured a new immigration detention facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” 

The center is designed to hold thousands of illegal immigrants and represents the administration’s broader efforts to ramp up border security.

Congress initially extended TPS protections for Haitians through February 3, 2026, for individuals present in the United States as of June 3, 2024. 

Noem’s attempt to accelerate the expiration date by several months prompted the legal challenge that led to Judge Cogan’s decision.

Judge Cogan’s ruling reinforces the legal principle that the executive branch cannot override statutory mandates and highlights the judiciary’s role in checking executive overreach, especially on sensitive issues like immigration policy, the Daily Mail reports.

The case also underscores ongoing debates over the balance between humanitarian relief for vulnerable populations and strict immigration enforcement policies pursued by the current administration. 

While some officials argue that conditions in Haiti have improved sufficiently to end TPS, advocates stress that instability, poverty and natural disasters continue to affect millions.

For now, Haitian nationals under TPS can continue living and working in the United States without fear of deportation until at least the date mandated by Congress.

The post Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Ending Haitian Temporary Protected Status Early appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.