U.S. Court of Appeals Blocks Trump Administration Attempt to End TPS for 350,000 Haitians

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a 2–1 decision on March 7, 2026.

“Appeals court rules against Trump administration’s efforts to end protected status for Haitians WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court this week sided with a lower judge’s ruling against the Trump administration’s efforts to end temporary protected status for roughly 350,000 Haitians living in the U”

Associated Press

The panel upheld a lower-court injunction that prevents the Department of Homeland Security from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Haitian nationals.

Associated Press

The ruling preserves the status quo while the underlying litigation continues.

The court's majority wrote that the government had not demonstrated the "irreparable harm" required to lift the injunction.

The court therefore denied emergency relief that would have disrupted protections while the appeal proceeds, a legal finding credited to Judge Florence Pan in coverage of the ruling.

Devdiscourse

The decision preserves work authorization for Haitian TPS holders.

“Temporary immigration protections will remain in place, for now, for more than 350,000 Haitians in the U”

Miami Herald

USCIS guidance automatically extends current Employment Authorization Documents for at least six months.

Employers were advised to update I-9 reverification calendars.

The ruling immediately shields roughly 45,000 Haitians in Massachusetts from deportation.

Coverage and reaction framed the ruling in the context of Haiti’s prolonged instability and broader administrative moves.

TPS for Haitians was first granted after the 2010 earthquake and has been periodically extended amid ongoing gang violence and political instability.

The Boston Globe

Advocates and officials noted the administration’s effort to end Haitian TPS is part of wider attempts to terminate protections for multiple migrant groups.

The administration may seek Supreme Court review, and a final resolution could stretch into late 2026.

“Overview: A federal appeals court has ruled that more than 350,000 Haitians with Temporary Protected Status can remain in the United States and continue working legally while a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate the program proceeds”

The Haitian Times

Meanwhile, Haitian TPS holders and employers can generally treat work authorization as stable through the rest of the year while monitoring the litigation and any potential appeals.

The Haitian Times