Letitia James adds to legal challenges against Trump’s TPS rollback for Haitians

NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a growing wave of legal action against the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. On March 25, James co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing the administration’s efforts, arguing that stripping TPS protections would endanger thousands of immigrants and harm local economies.

“New York is home to thousands of hardworking Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants who are members of our communities, our culture, and our economy,” James said in a statement. 

“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.”

The lawsuit, “Haitian-Americans United v. Trump,” challenges the administration’s early termination of TPS for Haiti and Venezuela—designations granted in response to natural disasters and political crises in those countries. Haiti, in particular, remains in turmoil, with rampant gang violence, economic collapse, and a government still in crisis. Meanwhile, Venezuela continues to suffer from extreme poverty, food shortages, and widespread political repression.

James’ latest legal action comes amid multiple lawsuits challenging Trump’s TPS rollbacks, including cases in Massachusetts, California, and Maryland. In Massachusetts, Haitian Americans United Inc., UndocuBlack Network, and other immigrant rights groups joined four individuals in suing the federal government. Meanwhile, in California, the National TPS Alliance and eight Venezuelan TPS holders have filed suit, and a Maryland case argues that terminating TPS for Venezuelans was racially motivated.

Separately, nine Haitian TPS holders, a labor union, and a clergy association recently filed a lawsuit in federal court, alleging that the administration’s rollback of TPS for Haiti is unlawful and racially motivated.

TPS at risk as key deadlines approach

As legal battles continue, TPS protections for Venezuelans are set to expire on April 7, while Haitians face an Aug. 3 deadline if the administration’s rollback proceeds as planned.

Congressional efforts to protect TPS holders are also facing hurdles. 

On March 6, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick—the only Haitian American in Congress—sent a letter to President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, urging them to extend TPS for Haitians. The letter, co-signed by 38 members of Congress, highlighted the economic contributions of TPS holders, who collectively pay $2.3 billion in federal taxes and $1.3 billion in state and local taxes annually.

“Across the country, [Haitians with TPS] have strengthened our workforce, supporting our airports, hospitals, small businesses, and schools,” Cherfilus-McCormick wrote, warning that “the mass exodus of half a million workers will jeopardize our national security and significantly affect the economies of numerous communities nationwide.”

The congresswoman has also co-sponsored H.R. 1689, a bill that would mandate TPS designation for Haitian nationals. However, with a Republican-controlled House, the bill faces steep opposition.

James’ latest fight follows past legal victories

James’ move to challenge Trump’s TPS rollback also comes shortly after she won a lawsuit forcing the administration to reinstate thousands of unlawfully fired federal workers. That victory, while significant, was only a temporary reprieve, and the TPS fight may be poised to be a tougher battle, given past court rulings on executive authority over immigration policy.

The attorney generals argue that the administration’s decision to end TPS is not based on evidence. They point to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s failure to cite a single source when terminating Venezuela’s TPS designation—contradicting assessments from the State Department and international agencies. When Noem announced the plan to vacate Haiti’s TPS designation, she did not claim conditions had improved but speculated that recent developments “might result in an improvement in conditions.”

With over 330,000 U.S. citizens living in mixed-status households with TPS holders, the lawsuit also highlights the devastating impact this decision could have on American families. Parents with TPS could be forced to either separate from their children or take them to countries plagued by violence and instability.

James and her coalition argue that the administration’s decision is not only legally flawed but also morally indefensible. As the case unfolds, Haitian and Venezuelan communities in New York and across the country are watching closely, hoping the courts will intervene before deportations begin.

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