Washington: A US federal judge has stopped the government from ending temporary legal protections for about 350,000 Haitians living in the United States, giving them relief from the risk of deportation.
The ruling blocks a plan by President Donald J. Trump’s administration to cancel Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haitians. TPS allows people from countries facing serious crises to stay and work legally in the United States.
US District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington said the decision to end the program likely broke the law. She noted that officials failed to properly review conditions in Haiti and did not follow required procedures before moving to terminate the protections.
Haiti has been struggling with widespread gang violence, political instability and humanitarian problems. The judge said these conditions make it unsafe for many people to return and must be carefully considered before any change in policy.
The Department of Homeland Security had planned to let TPS for Haitians expire soon, which would have left hundreds of thousands without legal status. The court order keeps the protections in place while the lawsuit continues.
The government said it plans to appeal the ruling. Officials argue that TPS is meant to be temporary and should not last for many years without change.
For now, Haitian migrants covered by the program can continue to live and work legally in the United States. Community groups welcomed the decision, saying it offers families stability and time to plan their future while the case moves through the courts.
The case is part of a wider legal battle over immigration policies, as courts review several efforts by the administration to end or limit protection programs for migrants from crisis hit countries.