WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump's administration to end Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian migrants, ruling that federal courts lack authority to review the executive branch's decisions to terminate the humanitarian protections.
In a 6-3 decision, the court's conservative majority reversed lower court rulings that had blocked the administration from ending the protections for more than 350,000 Haitians and about 6,100 Syrians. The ruling means affected migrants could lose authorization to live and work in the United States and become subject to deportation, subject to any other immigration relief for which they may qualify.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, said the law governing Temporary Protected Status bars judicial review of the government's decisions to designate or terminate the program. The court's three liberal justices dissented.
Temporary Protected Status allows nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to remain and work legally in the United States while conditions in their home countries are deemed unsafe.
The case stemmed from legal challenges to the Department of Homeland Security's decision to revoke protections for Haiti and Syria. Plaintiffs argued the administration failed to follow required procedures and that conditions in both countries remained too dangerous for return. The administration maintained that Congress vested the authority to make TPS determinations in the executive branch.
The decision is expected to have broader implications because the administration has sought to end Temporary Protected Status for additional countries. Immigration advocates said the ruling could affect as many as 1.3 million TPS holders if similar actions proceed, while the administration has argued the program's continuation rests solely with executive discretion.
No further action by the Supreme Court in the case was announced, and implementation of the administration's policy will proceed consistent with the ruling.
