A federal court has blocked the Trump administration’s effort to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals, ruling that the move violated federal law.
U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan, in a July 1st decision, found that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, failed to meet legal requirements before trying to cut short the program. Specifically, the court stated that DHS did not conduct the mandated assessment of conditions in Haiti before reducing the duration of TPS.
The Biden administration extended Haiti’s TPS through February 3, 2026, protecting over 500,000 Haitian nationals from deportation and granting them work permits. Earlier this year, the Trump administration moved to end the program early, first setting an August 3 end date, then pushing it to September 2.
Judge Cogan ruled that Secretary Noem exceeded her authority by bypassing legal procedures required under the Administrative Procedure Act. The decision found that Haitian TPS holders and advocacy groups would face significant harm if the rollback were to move forward.
The complaint, which was filed in March, claimed the abrupt policy change created instability for families and ignored Haiti’s ongoing crisis, marked by violence, displacement, and severe shortages of essential services.
The court’s decision ensures Haiti’s TPS designation remains intact at least until early 2026, barring further legal developments. A separate case challenging the administration’s actions is still ongoing in Massachusetts.
