In a huge win for immigrant rights and Haitian families across the U.S., a federal judge in New York has stopped the Trump administration from ending humanitarian protections early for Haitians living in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.
The decision, handed down Friday by U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan, ensures that up to 500,000 Haitian immigrants can continue to live and work legally in the U.S. until at least February 3, 2026, as promised under the Biden administration.
The ruling comes just days after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to cut that timeline short by five months an attempt the judge declared unlawful.
Judge Cogan, a Bush-era appointee, emphasized that the government can’t suddenly revoke promises made to individuals who have built lives here. “When the Government confers a benefit over a fixed period of time, a beneficiary can reasonably expect to receive that benefit at least until the end of that fixed period,” he wrote.
Translation: You can’t pull the rug out from under people who’ve enrolled in school, started jobs, and sought medical care based on the government’s word.
While the Supreme Court recently allowed the rollback of TPS protections for Venezuelans, this ruling offers hope and relief for Haitian communities facing ongoing unrest back home. The U.S. State Department still advises Americans not to travel to Haiti due to extreme violence, kidnappings, and limited health care access.
Despite claims that conditions in Haiti have “improved,” the judge clearly saw the reality on the ground and protected the legal rights of those most vulnerable.
This decision marks a major blow to efforts by the Trump administration to cancel humanitarian protections for over 1 million immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, and more.
For now, Haitian TPS holders can breathe easier and keep building their futures in safety.
