Supreme Court upholds termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians
The Supreme Court has upheld the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians, limiting courts' ability to review Homeland Security's TPS decisions. The ruling affects hundreds of thousands of people who could lose legal status, work authorization and protection from deportation.
The Supreme Court upheld the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians on Tuesday, a decision that limits judicial review of Homeland Security's TPS decisions and affects hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The ruling makes it harder to challenge TPS terminations in court.
TPS was established in 1990 to protect nationals from designated countries facing extraordinary circumstances such as war or natural disaster. The program provides legal status, work authorization and protection from deportation to eligible recipients.
The Trump administration has moved to end TPS for nationals from more than a dozen countries. About 1.3 million people had TPS at the start of President Trump's term, according to the American Immigration Council, and hundreds of thousands have lost protections since then.
The Department of Homeland Security said recipients without another lawful immigration status will face deportation once their TPS ends. The department directed recipients to use the administration's self-deportation app.
"If people want to come to our country to work, they need to do that by coming here the legal way," a DHS spokesperson said Tuesday.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said DHS was "upholding the rule of law" and argued the Biden administration had improperly used TPS to extend protections beyond the program's intended scope.
Advocates warn the terminations could have economic consequences. About 80% of TPS holders participate in the labor market, according to a 2025 study by the University of Pennsylvania.
TPS designations for other countries are also approaching expiration. Protections for approximately 170,000 Salvadorans are valid through Sept. 9, potentially ending more than two decades of coverage.
Litigation over TPS terminations in Burma, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia continues. Last week, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy temporarily delayed the termination of protections for Ethiopians.
Go Deeper
What is Temporary Protected Status?
TPS is a program created by Congress in 1990 that allows the Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters or other extraordinary conditions. Recipients receive protection from deportation and work authorization for designated periods, typically 6 to 18 months, which can be extended.
Which countries currently have TPS designations?
As of 2026, countries with TPS designations include El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. The Trump administration has moved to terminate designations for many of these countries, though some terminations face ongoing legal challenges.
How does the Supreme Court ruling affect future TPS challenges?
The ruling limits courts' ability to review Homeland Security's TPS decisions, making it more difficult to challenge terminations. Future lawsuits will need to meet a higher standard than previous challenges, according to legal experts. This means recipients have fewer legal options to fight termination of their status.
What happens to TPS holders when their status ends?
When TPS ends, recipients who do not have another form of legal immigration status become subject to deportation. They lose work authorization and protection from removal. DHS has encouraged those without legal status to use the administration's self-deportation app and leave the country voluntarily.
Can TPS holders apply for permanent residency or citizenship?
TPS itself does not directly lead to permanent residency or citizenship. However, some TPS holders may be eligible for other immigration benefits through family relationships, employment sponsorships or other pathways. The program is temporary by design and does not provide a direct route to permanent status, though some long-term recipients have sought legislative solutions to address their situation.
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