Federal Judge Ana Reyes in Brownsville, Texas, has allowed the Trump administration to remove protections for Haitians under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. This ruling ends a standoff over the legal fate of nearly 350,000 people who were shielded from deportation after Haiti's 2010 earthquake and ongoing instability.
What happens next for TPS holders
With Judge Reyes’ decision, Haitian TPS recipients who have not found another legal immigration path can no longer work in the U.S. and may face arrest or removal. The Department of Homeland Security is urging them to leave voluntarily, but those who stay may be detained. Some have already been called into ICE offices and put on ankle monitors as enforcement begins. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated, 'We’re going after them right now. These individuals can either self-deport or we’ll arrest you and send you back. It’s that simple.'
The legal battle is not over. Lawyers for Haitian migrants argue the administration ended TPS with bias. The Supreme Court, however, said no clear evidence of discrimination has been shown. The judge’s order now paves the way for removal proceedings to start in earnest. More than 300,000 Haitians have lost TPS permission overnight and could endure deportation if they have not applied for another form of immigration relief, such as asylum in the US or a green card.
Elder care workers feel impact
The ruling also affects the elder care sector, which relies on Haitian workers. Nursing homes in Florida have already let 12 Haitian TPS holders go as their work permits expired. Many of these workers were certified nursing assistants, housekeepers, and food service staff. Replacing them is proving difficult, with providers noting long-term care residents had built close relationships with Haitian staff. TPS holders are eligible for work permits and have added an estimated $262bn to the US economy since 2001, according to the FWD.us advocacy organization, often pursuing careers in essential industries such as construction and health and elder care.
The U.S. immigration group FWD.us said that in early 2025, Haitian TPS holders earned about $5.9 billion for the economy and paid $1.6 billion in taxes. Their departure is expected to create a shortage of care workers as the U.S. demand for aging adults increases. With so many immigrants suddenly barred from the workforce, business owners are being forced to let go of employees in industries already hampered by significant labor shortages.