Some 240,000 immigrants, along with millions of loved ones in their extended families, broke into cheers and tears last night when they learned a federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for hundreds of thousands of Haitians, Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, and Sudanese.
Among the key parts of the ruling from U.S. District Judge Edward Chen: ending TPS would harm hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries and their families; racial animus seems to have influenced the White House’s decision; ending TPS would wreak havoc on local and national economies; and ending TPS would have undermined the stability of the countries affected and harm our foreign policy interests as a result.
Frank Sharry, America’s Voice Executive Director:
With regard to the 300,000 TPS holders threatened with being removed from their families, jobs, businesses and communities, it has long been clear that instead of adhering to the law, the Trump administration has been adhering to its radical nativist agenda. Fortunately, Judge Chen has ruled against this unlawful behavior and put a temporary halt to the cruelty and cynicism of this aspect of the mass deportation agenda of Trump, Stephen Miller, Jeff Sessions and Kirstjen Nielsen.
But let’s be clear. Eventually, the administration will get this case put before the Supreme Court, and we no longer have confidence that this body will make a fair and impartial decision. Beyond the temporary reprieve provided by the lower courts, the only real solution is in Congress. Let’s also be clear about the stakes of the upcoming election. Unless Democrats win the majority in at least the House of Representatives, no legislative relief will be forthcoming. If and when Democrats win the election, then it will be possible and indeed imperative for the legislative branch to deliver on a permanent solution for hundreds of thousands of TPS holders who have been living with legal status for years and contributing to their families and communities.
