Massachusetts Governor Healey responds after U.S. Court of Appeals thwarts Trump Administration’s effort to terminate Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Haitians

The Massachusetts Governor is reacting after a ruling that took place this weekend.

On Saturday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 against the Trump Administration’s effort to terminate Temporary Protected Status for approximately 350,000 Haitians living in the United States and 45,000 in Massachusetts.

Governor Maura Healey issued the following statement: 

“Today’s ruling is welcome news for Haitian families, our communities, and our economy.  

Haitian TPS holders have lived, worked and raised their families here for years after fleeing devastating violence and instability in Haiti. Over time, they have become an essential part of our neighborhoods and our workforce.  

If President Trump had his way, hundreds of thousands of people who have been living and working legally in this country would suddenly have had their protections stripped away and lost their ability to work. That would upend families and create serious disruptions to our economy.  

Haitian TPS holders are nurses, home health aides, small business owners, teachers and caregivers. They are our neighbors, our coworkers and our friends. Massachusetts is proud to be home to a vibrant Haitian community, and we will continue to stand with them.” 

TPS is a humanitarian program that allows immigrants from countries facing crises, such as Haiti’s ongoing gang violence, political instability, and humanitarian disasters, to temporarily live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

The Trump administration sought to end these protections, arguing that conditions in Haiti have improved sufficiently.