In a major win for Haitian nationals in the United States, a New York federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully shortened their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation by six months, restoring protections through February 2026.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan found that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem exceeded her authority earlier this year when she cut short the 18-month extension that had been granted under the Biden administration. The decision would have ended deportation protections for Haitians as early as September 2, instead of February 2026.
“Secretary Noem’s [decision] was in excess of her authority and was thus unlawful,” Cogan wrote in his ruling. He granted partial summary judgment in favor of the Haitian TPS holders and partly denied the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The ruling impacts more than 500,000 Haitian nationals who rely on TPS to live and work legally in the U.S. and shields them, at least for now, from deportation. The judge noted that the plaintiffs had demonstrated they were “likely to prevail on the merits” of their case and would suffer “irreparable injury” without intervention from the court.
TPS is a humanitarian program granted to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. Haiti received TPS following its devastating 2010 earthquake and has continued to qualify due to ongoing crises.
Noem, acting under the Trump administration, had sought to overturn the Biden-era extension, triggering legal action from nine Haitian TPS holders and two advocacy groups, who accused the administration of violating due process and engaging in racial discrimination.
Although the administration is expected to appeal the ruling, the court’s decision provides critical breathing room for Haitian immigrants, many of whom have lived and worked in the U.S. for years. The case was heard in the Eastern District of New York.
