Many Haitians and Syrians facing uncertainty about future

TAMPA, Fla. — Hundreds of thousands of Haitians and thousands of Syrians are expected to lose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gives the Department of Homeland Security broad authority to determine when the humanitarian program should be extended or terminated.

The decision could affect immigrants who have legally lived and worked in the United States for years, leaving many uncertain about their future.

“I was devastated because I have so many Haitian friends who are in that dilemma right now, not knowing what to do,” said Danielle Wainwright, a Haitian advocate.

Wainwright said many Haitian TPS recipients have spent decades building lives in the United States and have little to return to in Haiti.

“We know that right now they don’t have anything to go to,” she said. “Imagine people who’ve had a life here for 15 or 20 years because of the situation in Haiti. They have not bought a home back home. They have not built anything back home. So they really don’t have anything to go to.”

Temporary Protected Status allows nationals from designated countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary humanitarian conditions to legally live and work in the United States while the designation remains in effect.

Haiti first received TPS following the devastating 2010 earthquake and subsequent political instability and humanitarian crises.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court determined that the Department of Homeland Security has broad discretion to decide whether TPS designations should continue or end.

In a statement, DHS General Counsel James Percival supported the decision, saying, “Temporary Protected Status was always supposed to be temporary and can be cancelled at the appropriate time.”

Immigration attorney Ananis Makar said the ruling was not entirely unexpected but urged those affected to seek legal advice as soon as possible.

“I think it’s something to be expected,” Makar said.

She noted that while options may be limited, some individuals could qualify for other forms of immigration relief, including asylum.

“I think it’s really important to know your options, to see if you can file for another form of relief, and to really educate yourself on your case,” Makar said.

For Wainwright, the issue extends beyond immigration policy.

“If we can use some empathy, that would go a long way,” she said. “If we could look at ourselves and say, ‘What if this was us in this situation, or a very close family member?’ What would we do? How would we feel? How would we react? Because this is not just the legal aspect, but also how that is impacting people in their everyday lives.”

It remains unclear when deportations for those who lose TPS could begin. Immigration experts say the process could take weeks or months as the policy is implemented.