ICE Targets Haitians, H-1B Fee Blocked, TPS Ends: News
You are Haitian, your TPS just ended, and now federal sources say ICE is drawing up plans to target communities like yours. At the same time, a federal appeals court just blocked a $100,000 H-1B fee that would have shut out thousands of skilled workers. This week's immigration news hits hard — and fast.
You filed for TPS years ago, built a life here, and now the protection is gone. Federal documents reviewed by CBS News show ICE is drawing up plans to arrest Haitians in cities including Springfield, Ohio — a community that has already been a target of anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Trump administration. For Haitian families whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS — a program that lets people from certain countries stay legally when their home country faces a crisis) has ended, the risk of arrest is now very real.
H-1B $100,000 Fee Stays Blocked
If you work on an H-1B visa (a work visa for specialty occupations), a federal appeals court gave employers and workers a significant win. The court refused to allow a $100,000 H-1B filing fee to go into effect, upholding a lower court ruling from June that struck the fee down. The lower court found the fee acted like a tax and exceeded presidential authority. Bloomberg Law reported the decision. The fee remains blocked while legal challenges continue.
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New York Orders Police to Cut ICE Agreements
New York State is moving to separate local police from federal immigration enforcement. Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 12 law enforcement agencies in the state had a deadline of August 25, 2026 to end their 287(g) agreements — contracts that allow local officers to act as ICE agents — under the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act passed in the state budget. Separately, a lawsuit filed against DHS alleges the agency retaliated against people who observed or protested ICE operations by revoking their Global Entry status, according to the Huffington Post.
Other major developments this week: DHS plans to open a large ICE detention center in Winton, North Carolina, inside a GEO Group-owned facility, by the end of the year, despite opposition from Governor Josh Stein. Three Venezuelan men sued aviation companies CSI Aviation and GlobalX over deportation flights to a notorious El Salvador prison, alleging civil rights violations. And a federal court ruled that Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national detained by ICE, can remain free while his case continues.
What to Do
- If your TPS has ended, contact an immigration lawyer right away to review any other options — such as asylum, a family petition, or other relief — before ICE enforcement reaches your area.
- If you are on an H-1B and your employer was planning to pay a large filing fee, ask your attorney to confirm the current fee amount and status of the court ruling before filing anything.
- If you live in New York and interact with local police, know that agencies in the state are required to end ICE cooperation agreements — but enforcement of that deadline is still unfolding, so stay informed through local legal aid organizations.
- If ICE agents approach you, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents without legal counsel present.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Appealing to the BIA”.
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If you are Haitian and your TPS has been terminated, you are not automatically deportable the moment it ends — ICE still must go through removal proceedings, and you have the right to appear before an immigration judge. If you receive a Notice to Appear (NTA), do not ignore it; contact an attorney immediately, because missing a hearing waives most defenses. On the H-1B side, the appeals court's refusal to stay the lower court ruling means the $100,000 fee remains blocked for now, but employers should not assume the legal fight is over — consult counsel before making any filing decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
My TPS ended. Can ICE arrest me right now?
The end of TPS does not mean ICE will arrest you immediately, but it does mean you no longer have legal status protecting you from removal. ICE still must go through a legal process, including issuing a Notice to Appear in immigration court. If you receive any paperwork from ICE or immigration court, contact a lawyer the same day.
What is the $100,000 H-1B fee and does it affect my visa?
The Trump administration tried to impose a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B petitions. A federal court struck it down in June 2026, and a federal appeals court refused to let it take effect while the legal fight continues. For now, the fee is blocked. The standard H-1B filing fee with USCIS remains $730 as of 2026. Talk to your employer's attorney to confirm what fees apply to your specific case.
What is a 287(g) agreement and why does it matter to me?
A 287(g) agreement lets local police act as ICE agents — they can check your immigration status and hold you for federal immigration authorities. New York State ordered 12 agencies to end these agreements by August 25, 2026. If you live in New York, this means local police in those jurisdictions should no longer be doing ICE's job. If you live in another state, check whether your local police have a similar agreement.
Can the government take away my Global Entry if I protest ICE?
A lawsuit filed against DHS alleges that the agency revoked Global Entry — a program that speeds up re-entry into the US — from people who protested or observed ICE operations. The case has not been decided yet. If your Global Entry was revoked and you believe it was connected to protected speech or protest activity, immigration lawyers recommend documenting everything and consulting an attorney about your options.