Supreme Court Ends TPS for Haiti and Syria: What to Do Now
On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the government can end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Syria. The decision removes the last legal barriers that had been protecting 1.3 million people from deportation. For TPS holders, the clock is now running — and the decisions you make in the next few weeks could change everything.
What the Supreme Court actually decided
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration has the legal authority to end TPS — a program that protects people from countries hit by disasters or conflict from being deported. The ruling lifts lower-court orders that had blocked the government from ending TPS for Haiti and Syria. Now those cases go back to the lower courts, which must apply the Supreme Court's decision. That process typically takes about 30 days. During that time, TPS protections are still in place.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must still set an official termination date and publish it in the Federal Register — the official government journal where federal agencies announce rule changes. Until DHS does that, your status has not officially ended. But immigration lawyers are urging TPS holders not to wait. "For today, nothing changes. People continue to have employment authorization, they're entitled to work, they're entitled to not be detained by ICE," said Hasan Shafiqullah, Immigration Supervising Attorney at The Legal Aid Society in New York. He added that this is a temporary situation that will change once the legal process plays out.
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What this means for your work permit and daily life
Right now, your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) — the card that proves you can legally work in the US — is still valid. Your employer cannot fire you or take action against you before your work authorization officially expires. Once the termination date is set and your EAD expires, your employer will be required to stop accepting it. Working after your permit expires — without another valid immigration status — is illegal. Your home, car, and bank accounts remain yours. But lawyers strongly recommend making plans now, before any detention or deportation order makes it much harder to act.
What are your options?
TPS holders are not without options, but those options are time-sensitive. A licensed immigration lawyer can review whether you qualify for asylum (protection for people who fear persecution in their home country), a family-based green card, an employment-based visa, or special visas for crime or trafficking survivors (called U and T visas). If you have a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child, a family petition may be possible. If you have no path to stay, you can ask an immigration judge for "voluntary departure" — meaning you leave on your own terms, which may help you avoid a formal deportation order that could bar you from returning later. If you have U.S.-born children, talk to a lawyer now about guardianship documents and powers of attorney so your children are protected no matter what happens.
What to do now
- Do not wait. Contact a licensed immigration lawyer immediately — not a notary or consultant. In New York, Haitian immigrants can call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monitor official sources. Check the DHS website and the Federal Register for the official TPS termination date. That date determines when your work permit expires.
- Make a family plan now. If you have U.S.-born children, prepare guardianship documents and powers of attorney while you still can. These are much harder to arrange after detention.
- Ask your lawyer about every option. Asylum, family petitions, U visas, T visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for young people — a qualified attorney can tell you which ones apply to your situation.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
TPS holders still have full work authorization and protection from ICE detention today — but that window will close once DHS publishes a termination date in the Federal Register, so use this time to act. If you have a U.S. citizen family member, ask a lawyer immediately whether an I-130 (family petition) can be filed now, because processing times matter. If you have no other status, requesting voluntary departure before an immigration judge is far better than waiting for a removal order, which can bar you from the US for years. Please consult a licensed immigration attorney as soon as possible — free legal help is available through nonprofit organizations in most major cities.