Three immigrant advocacy organizations filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to block the Trump administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) earlier than scheduled for people from Haiti and Venezuela living in the U.S.
Last month, President Donald Trump’s administration rescinded the TPS extension that had been granted under President Joe Biden through February 2026, instead requiring Haitians to leave by August 3 and Venezuelans by April 2.
Lawyers for Civil Rights, representing the groups and four affected individuals, said this is the first lawsuit filed on behalf of Haitians in the U.S. under TPS. Two separate lawsuits were previously filed challenging the decision regarding Venezuelans.
“TPS is a critical lifeline for immigrants who have fled extreme violence, political upheaval, and natural disasters in their home countries,” said LCR senior attorney Mirian Albert.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment about the lawsuit.
According to The Immigrant Learning Center, the Boston area, home to nearly 50,000 Haitian people, has one of the largest Haitian communities in the U.S.
Paul Simon, a Haitian American in Boston who voted for Trump three times, expressed disagreement with the policy: “I think he’s going to fail at this. If someone’s TPS is not going to expire till 2026, he shouldn’t be able to boot them out until 2026. He can’t preemptively end something that has been granted to them.”
The plaintiffs include Haitian-Americans United Inc., the Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts, the UndocuBlack Network, and four individuals affected by the decision.
“The decision to undermine TPS for Haiti and Venezuela is driven by racial bias and has no basis in the realities these communities face,” Albert stated.
The complaint references an incident during Trump’s first term where he reportedly called Haiti and African nations “s—hole countries” during a meeting with senators, which Trump denied but acknowledged his “tough” talk. The lawsuit also notes that during his campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed without evidence that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were “eating the pets of the people that live there.”
The lawsuit argues that the administration lacks the authority to “revoke an extension that has already been granted.”
Two plaintiffs using pseudonyms, Sydney and Marlene Doe, settled in Massachusetts in 2018. Sydney Doe works as a real estate broker and business owner, while Marlene Doe is a nurse.
Dieufort J. Fleurissaint, executive director of Haitian-Americans United Inc., stated that “the community is anxious about the sudden loss of legal status, the possibility of facing deportation to unstable conditions in Haiti, and potential difficulties in finding alternative legal pathways in the U.S.”
About the author
US Supreme Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Request to Halt Foreign Aid Payments
A divided US Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's request to maintain a freeze on billions of dollars in congressionally approved foreign aid. The Court did not specify when the funds must be released, allowing the administration to continue challenging the issue in lower courts. The 5-4 ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts joining Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson in the majority. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. The majority noted that since a court-ordered deadline to disburse the funds had already passed, lower courts should clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to comply with the temporary restraining order. The ruling doesn't require immediate payment of up to $2 billion in foreign aid; it simply allows the district court to potentially compel those payments with […]
Top Diplomat Fired After Questioning Trump’s Knowledge on History
New Zealand has dismissed its most senior envoy to the United Kingdom following remarks that questioned US President Donald Trump's understanding of history. During an event in London on Tuesday, High Commissioner Phil Goff compared efforts to end the Russia- Ukraine war to the 1938 Munich Agreement, which permitted Adolf Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Mr. Goff recalled Sir Winston Churchill's criticism of the agreement, then said, "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?" New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters called his comments "deeply disappointing" and said they made his position "untenable." Goff's remarks came after Trump paused military aid to Kyiv following a contentious exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week. The High Commissioner contrasted Trump with Churchill who, while […]
“I Thought We Were in Hell”: Aid Worker Survives Russian Missile Strike on Ukrainian Hotel
An aid worker described surviving a Russian missile attack on a hotel in Ukraine as feeling like an "apocalyptic movie." Karol Swiacki, founder of Bournemouth-based Ukraine Relief, and his team were leaving dinner when caught in the attack on Kryvyi Rih overnight. The strike killed at least four people and injured 31, according to the city's regional governor. Kryvyi Rih is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown. Zelensky is currently attending an EU emergency summit where he thanked European leaders for their "strong support." Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Swiacki explained he had traveled to Ukraine to deliver supplies to shelters, orphanages, and schools. He has previously won a BBC award for his aid work in Ukraine. "We had a nice dinner together and were planning to go to a school in the morning," Swiacki told listeners. "We were about to […]
Senate Drama Erupts as Sexual Harassment Claims Against Akpabio Get Thrown Out Despite Court Order!
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has publicly addressed allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, firmly denying any such conduct occurred. "At no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment," Akpabio stated, emphasizing his respect for women, citing his upbringing by a single mother and noting that he has four daughters. He also referenced receiving a "most gender-friendly governor" award during his 2007-2015 tenure. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan's petition against Akpabio. The committee's decision came amid controversy over procedural matters. The situation began when Akpoti-Uduaghan presented a petition at a plenary session attended by a delegation of UK parliamentarians led by Kate Ofunne Osamor. Senate leadership, including Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, attempted to convince Akpabio to reverse his decision to allow investigation, citing […]
Trump Delays Tariffs to Automakers from Canada and Mexico for One Month
The White House announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump has granted automakers a one-month exemption from his 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, provided they comply with existing free trade rules. This temporary relief halted Wall Street's steepest decline in nearly three months. The administration is also considering exemptions for other products from the tariffs that took effect Tuesday. However, Trump emphasized he is not ending his trade pressure campaign against both countries, which he says is aimed at reducing fentanyl smuggling. Following a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump stated on Truth Social: "He said that it's gotten better, but I said, 'That's not good enough.' The call ended in a 'somewhat' friendly manner!" Public data shows just 0.2% of fentanyl seized in the U.S. comes from Canada, with the majority entering through the southern border. A […]
US Charges 12 Chinese Nationals in International Hacking Operation
US prosecutors have charged 12 Chinese nationals for participating in an alleged hacking scheme that sold the data of US-based dissidents to the Chinese government. According to the Justice Department (DOJ), this "state-sponsored" operation targeted government agencies, including the US Treasury, an American religious organization critical of China, and a Hong Kong newspaper considered opposed to the Chinese government. The charges, unsealed in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, include two officers from China's Ministry of Public Security. The hackers, appearing to represent a private company called i-Soon, allegedly charged Chinese agencies between $10,000 and $75,000 for each "exploited" email inbox. "Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide," said Sue J Bai, who heads the DOJ's National Security Division. The hackers reportedly conducted computer intrusions both under […]
Related
US Supreme Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Request to Halt Foreign Aid Payments
A divided US Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's request to maintain a freeze on billions of dollars in congressionally approved foreign aid. The Court did not specify when the funds must be released, allowing the administration to continue challenging the issue in lower courts. The 5-4 ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts joining Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson in the majority. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. The majority noted that since a court-ordered deadline to disburse the funds had already passed, lower courts should clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to comply with the temporary restraining order. The ruling doesn't require immediate payment of up to $2 billion in foreign aid; it simply allows the district court to potentially compel those payments with […]
Top Diplomat Fired After Questioning Trump’s Knowledge on History
New Zealand has dismissed its most senior envoy to the United Kingdom following remarks that questioned US President Donald Trump's understanding of history. During an event in London on Tuesday, High Commissioner Phil Goff compared efforts to end the Russia- Ukraine war to the 1938 Munich Agreement, which permitted Adolf Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Mr. Goff recalled Sir Winston Churchill's criticism of the agreement, then said, "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?" New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters called his comments "deeply disappointing" and said they made his position "untenable." Goff's remarks came after Trump paused military aid to Kyiv following a contentious exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week. The High Commissioner contrasted Trump with Churchill who, while […]
Senate Drama Erupts as Sexual Harassment Claims Against Akpabio Get Thrown Out Despite Court Order!
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has publicly addressed allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, firmly denying any such conduct occurred. "At no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment," Akpabio stated, emphasizing his respect for women, citing his upbringing by a single mother and noting that he has four daughters. He also referenced receiving a "most gender-friendly governor" award during his 2007-2015 tenure. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan's petition against Akpabio. The committee's decision came amid controversy over procedural matters. The situation began when Akpoti-Uduaghan presented a petition at a plenary session attended by a delegation of UK parliamentarians led by Kate Ofunne Osamor. Senate leadership, including Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, attempted to convince Akpabio to reverse his decision to allow investigation, citing […]
Trump Delays Tariffs to Automakers from Canada and Mexico for One Month
The White House announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump has granted automakers a one-month exemption from his 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, provided they comply with existing free trade rules. This temporary relief halted Wall Street's steepest decline in nearly three months. The administration is also considering exemptions for other products from the tariffs that took effect Tuesday. However, Trump emphasized he is not ending his trade pressure campaign against both countries, which he says is aimed at reducing fentanyl smuggling. Following a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump stated on Truth Social: "He said that it's gotten better, but I said, 'That's not good enough.' The call ended in a 'somewhat' friendly manner!" Public data shows just 0.2% of fentanyl seized in the U.S. comes from Canada, with the majority entering through the southern border. A […]
US Charges 12 Chinese Nationals in International Hacking Operation
US prosecutors have charged 12 Chinese nationals for participating in an alleged hacking scheme that sold the data of US-based dissidents to the Chinese government. According to the Justice Department (DOJ), this "state-sponsored" operation targeted government agencies, including the US Treasury, an American religious organization critical of China, and a Hong Kong newspaper considered opposed to the Chinese government. The charges, unsealed in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, include two officers from China's Ministry of Public Security. The hackers, appearing to represent a private company called i-Soon, allegedly charged Chinese agencies between $10,000 and $75,000 for each "exploited" email inbox. "Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide," said Sue J Bai, who heads the DOJ's National Security Division. The hackers reportedly conducted computer intrusions both under […]
Hong Kong’s Highest Court Shocks Everyone with This Ruling on Tiananmen Vigil Organizers
Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal on Thursday overturned the convictions of three former organizers of annual Tiananmen Square vigils who had refused to provide information to police, representing an uncommon legal victory for pro-democracy figures in the territory. Chow Hang-tung, Tang Ngok-kwan, and Tsui Hon-kwong, who were core members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted in 2023 during a period of increased government action against the city's pro-democracy movement. They had already served their 4 1/2 month sentences. The alliance was known for organizing annual candlelight vigils commemorating the 1989 military response to pro-democracy protests in Beijing. The group voted to dissolve in 2021 following the implementation of a national security law by China. Some observers have noted that the group's dissolution and the case against its members reflected a […]
Be the first to leave a comment