Haitian Immigrants Urge Supreme Court to Dismiss TPS Case Amid New Evidence

Lawyers representing Haitian immigrants have filed a motion asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the Trump administration's effort to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 330,000 Haitians, citing newly uncovered evidence that they argue shows the decision was predetermined. The motion, submitted on Tuesday, contends that internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents reveal that career staff recommended against ending the designation, but were overruled by a political appointee. The immigrants' legal team asserts that the termination process deviated from standard procedures, casting doubt on the administration's claims of proper legal review.

TPS, established by Congress in 1990, provides protection for individuals unable to return safely to their home countries due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. Haiti first received TPS designation in 2010 following a devastating earthquake that killed over 200,000 people and plunged the nation into a prolonged crisis marked by gang violence, cholera outbreaks, and political instability. The designation has been renewed multiple times since, but the Trump administration has repeatedly sought to end it.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case before a lower appeals court could rule, an unusual procedural step. During oral arguments, the administration argued that courts have no authority to review executive branch determinations on TPS. However, under questioning from Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Solicitor General John Sauer conceded that courts could review claims of racial discrimination—a challenge the immigrants have raised, alleging that the revocation was motivated by race.

With a decision expected by the end of June, the immigrants' lawyers now argue that the newly discovered DHS documents prevent the court from reaching a definitive judgment. "Until discovery is complete, the Court lacks a firm factual foundation on which to judge the merits of respondents' claims," their motion states. The court is expected to invite the administration to file a response before ruling on the motion to dismiss.