Attorney General Letitia James is leading the charge alongside a coalition of attorneys general from 17 states to defend the residency of roughly 250,000 Haitian immigrants residing in the U.S. These immigrants, who fled life-threatening conditions in Haiti, now face the possibility of losing their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the group stands against the federal government's attempts to terminate this protection, with the coalition arguing that such a move is illegal and endangers countless individuals across the country, as per the Attorney General's release.
"Haitian immigrants are a valuable part of our communities and local economies, helping make New York and this nation what they are today," James stated, emphasizing the contributions of this immigrant community. The New York Attorney General's office is urging the court to honor the plaintiffs' plea to delay the discontinuation of TPS. Under the DHS, Haiti was originally designated for TPS in 2010, post a destructive earthquake, and has had its status extended several times, the most recent being in 2024. Despite this, the current administration is looking to end these protections, leaving more than a quarter of a million Haitian immigrants, including over 56,000 residing in New York, in a potential state of risk.
Families stand at a crossroads, facing the prospect of separation if TPS is revoked. According to the Attorney General's coalition, there are over 200,000 U.S. citizens, encompassing an estimated 87,000 children, living with a Haitian TPS recipient. Haitian parents may be forced to make heart-wrenching decisions: either to return to a perilous homeland leaving their children behind, transplant their American-born offspring to a land riddled with uncertainty, or stay in the US without legal status, an option fraught with fear and instability.
The removal of TPS from Haitian nationals is anticipated to be a significant blow to local economies and communities. James and the coalition note that Haitians fulfill indispensable roles within New York's healthcare, education, and construction industries, to name but a few, with an economic footprint of $4.4 billion annually. With the revocation of their work permits, the fallout could be harsh, hitting local economies and impinging on families' ability to sustain themselves. Moreover, many of these immigrant families could lose their access to health insurance, exacerbating public health concerns.
Attorney General James and the coalition are asserting that the decision to terminate TPS reeks of arbitrariness, discrimination, and constitutional violations, pressing the court to grant the request to halt the termination of TPS for Haitians. The legal effort includes support from attorneys general representing a diverse spread of states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
