New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside a coalition of 18 attorneys general, has taken a stand against the Trump administration's move to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. The group filed an amicus brief in the case of Haitian-Americans United v. Trump, arguing that ending TPS would have severe economic, social, and humanitarian impacts.
"New York is home to thousands of hardworking Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants who are members of our communities, our culture, and our economy," said Attorney General James. "Stripping these individuals of their legal status will not make our communities safer or stronger; it will only put immigrants and their families in harm’s way. I urge the court to block this unlawful action and uphold these potentially life-saving legal protections."
The coalition contends that the Trump administration disregarded the dangerous conditions in Haiti and Venezuela when deciding to end TPS. Haiti continues to face political instability and economic collapse, while Venezuela suffers from extreme poverty and shortages of essential goods. Despite these conditions, TPS terminations could lead to deportation risks for many individuals.
The attorneys general also emphasize that terminating TPS would disrupt local economies as many TPS holders work in critical sectors like healthcare and construction. New York alone houses about 56,800 TPS holders who significantly contribute economically through taxes and spending power.
Attorney General James highlights that over 330,000 U.S. citizens live in households with Haitian or Venezuelan TPS holders. Terminating TPS would force families into difficult decisions regarding separation or relocation to unsafe countries.
In January, former DHS Secretary Mayorkas extended Venezuela’s TPS designation citing ongoing emergencies. However, current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced its termination without citing sources for improvement claims. Similarly, no substantial improvements were cited for Haiti when its TPS was vacated.
Joining Attorney General James are attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.