Judge Blocks Haitian Deportation Amid Ongoing Violence

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to revoke legal protections for over 350,000 Haitians living in the United States, preventing their deportation to violence-ridden Haiti. The decision was made by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who intervened against the Department of Homeland Security's attempts to end Haiti's Temporary Protected Status.

Judge Reyes, appointed by President Joe Biden, issued the ruling in response to a class-action lawsuit from Haitian immigrants. The plaintiffs argued that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's actions were biased against nonwhite immigrants and in violation of constitutional rights. The ruling underscores the dangerous conditions in Haiti and protects the rights of TPS holders.

TPS for Haitians was first granted after a devastating earthquake in 2010 and has been repeatedly extended due to ongoing crises in the country. The Department of Homeland Security plans to appeal the decision, arguing TPS was not meant as a permanent solution. The U.S. currently extends TPS for Haiti until February 2026.