A federal judge in Washington D.C. on February 2, 2026, temporarily blocked the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals, preventing immediate deportations and protecting their work authorization. Judge Ana Reyes ruled that the Department of Homeland Security likely acted unlawfully.
Key details of the ruling and situation:
- Action Paused: The termination of TPS, set for February 3, 2026, was deemed “null, void, and of no legal effect” for the duration of the lawsuit.
- Judicial Reasoning: Judge Reyes suggested the administration’s decision was influenced by “hostility to nonwhite immigrants” and ignored evidence of continued instability in Haiti.
- Impact: Over 350,000 Haitians can continue to legally live and work in the U.S. while the legal battle continues.
- Context: This is part of a broader push by the administration to revoke TPS for multiple nationalities, including Venezuelans and others, amid a wider immigration agenda.
- Next Steps: The government has indicated plans to appeal the decision