Supreme Court Weighs Fate of TPS for Haitian and Syrian Immigrants Amid Broader Uncertainty

On April 25, 2026 the Supreme Court heard arguments in *Trump v. Miot* and *Mullin v. Doe*, challenging the administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian nationals and asking whether lower courts may review the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determinations.

Congress created TPS in 1990 to protect migrants from war, disaster or other extraordinary conditions. The Trump administration previously ended TPS for about one million people from Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua and Afghanistan. DHS secretary Kristi Noem, under President Trump, terminated TPS for all 12 designations up for renewal in early 2025, including Haiti (Nov.) and Syria (Sept.). TPS now covers 1.3 million immigrants from 17 countries; about 1 million from 13 nations have lost status. Salvadoran TPS holders sent $9.9 billion in 2025 remittances, 24 % of El Salvador’s GDP. About 6,100 Syrian migrants remain under TPS.

Justice Department argues the 1990 Immigration Act bars judicial review of the Secretary’s TPS decisions. White House says TPS is “by definition, temporary” and not a path to permanent residency. Plaintiffs claim the administration omitted required inter-agency consultation, calling the move “a war on this congressional statute.” Ahilan Arulanantham warned the government could end TPS “without conducting any country-conditions review…for reasons that are completely arbitrary.” José Palma warned that “nothing can be guaranteed with this administration.” A district-court opinion suggested Haitian termination may have been motivated by “racial animus.”

Reuters

Sources differ on whether El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has formally requested a TPS extension; some reports say he has not, while others cite earlier requests during the Trump era. Precise numbers of Haitian TPS recipients are not disclosed.

José Urías, a Boston builder who has constructed more than 150 homes, says his two U.S.-born sons will stay in the United States regardless of TPS outcomes. Lorena Zepeda, a CARECEN organizer, faces deportation despite three decades of residence; she described her situation as “sad” and said she relies on faith.

• “a huge amount is at stake” — Ahilan Arulanantham, lawyer

Reuters

• “We cannot rely solely on friendly relations,” — José Palma, National TPS Alliance

• “I don’t think that the fact that Bukele has really delivered on Trump’s priorities necessarily means that Trump will respond to TPS extension requests,” — Rebecca Bill-Chavez, CEO, Inter-American Dialogue

• “I feel quite sad,” — Lorena Zepeda, Salvadoran TPS holder

The Court is expected to issue a ruling by late June 2026, with some outlets projecting a July decision. A decision favoring the administration could cement authority to end TPS without judicial oversight; a ruling preserving lower-court review could maintain TPS for Haiti, Syria and potentially other designations.

Reuters