California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken a stand against the Trump Administration's decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Venezuelans. On March 25, 2025, Bonta led a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in the case of Haitian-Americans United v. Trump. The brief supports a challenge to the early termination of TPS, which is designed to allow immigrants from certain countries to remain in the United States due to adverse conditions in their home nations.
Bonta criticized the Trump Administration's efforts, stating: “The Trump Administration seeks to strip more than 50% of all TPS holders of legal protections that allow them to live lawfully in this country. In doing so, it threatens to force these individuals to choose between living in the shadows here in America or returning to dangerous conditions in their home countries.” He emphasized that TPS holders are integral members of communities and contribute significantly to the economy.
The coalition argues that ending TPS for Haitians and Venezuelans would cause irreparable harm by stripping work authorization and exposing individuals to deportation risks. They also warn of negative impacts on state economies and public health, as well as challenges for jurisdictions enforcing criminal codes.
Attorney General Bonta has been active in defending immigrant rights, having previously supported challenges against similar actions by the Trump Administration. He leads this effort alongside Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and New York Attorney General Letitia James, with support from attorneys general across several states including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
A copy of the brief is available for public access.