Saving Humanitarian Protections
Haitian and Venezuelan Immigrants Sue to Protect Humanitarian Protections
First Lawsuit To Challenge Trump Administration’s Rollback of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti
Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) filed a federal lawsuit today to block the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. The lawsuit is brought on behalf of three immigrant advocacy organizations—Haitians Americans United, Inc. (HAU), Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts (VAM), UndocuBlack Network (UBN)—and four affected individuals. It is the first case in the country to challenge the rollback of TPS protections for Haiti and is brought in the federal district court in Boston, home to one of the largest Haitian populations in the country.
The Trump Administration’s attempt to move up the TPS termination dates for Haiti and Venezuela is not authorized by the TPS statute and is rooted in racial and national origin discrimination. “TPS is a critical lifeline for immigrants who have fled extreme violence, political upheaval, and natural disasters in their home countries,” said Mirian Albert, Senior Attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights, one of the attorneys for the Plaintiffs. “The decision to undermine TPS for Haiti and Venezuela is driven by racial bias and has no basis in the realities these communities face. The Constitution prohibits government actions based on racial animus,” she added, citing comments that Trump has made including that Venezuelan immigrants are “animals” and that Haitian immigrants “all have AIDS.”
TPS for Haiti was granted in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and has since been renewed several times. In 2018, the Trump Administration attempted to end TPS for Haiti, alongside other countries, but was blocked by the courts after legal challenges, including one brought by LCR. Under the Biden Administration, TPS for Haiti was extended, and granted to Venezuela for the first time, due to the ongoing crises in these countries, including violence, political instability, and economic collapse.
When Trump entered office a second time, TPS protections for Haiti were set to expire on February 3, 2026, and for Venezuela on October 2, 2026, but his Administration is attempting to speed those expiration dates to August 3, 2025 and April 2, 2025, respectively. But the TPS statute does not allow any president to revoke an extension that has already been granted.
The Trump Administration has demonstrated a pattern of discriminatory rhetoric regarding Haitians and Venezuelans, including Trump’s derogatory characterization of Haiti and other nations as “shithole countries” and his false and inflammatory comments about Venezuelan immigrants, such as claiming they are criminals and are “poisoning the blood of our country.” The plaintiffs argue that these statements, coupled with the Administration’s unprecedented attempt to advance the deadline for terminating TPS, demonstrate unlawful bias in decision-making.
If revoked, tens of thousands of Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants would face deportation to countries still in crisis. Many TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for years, contributing to the economy and raising U.S. citizen children. Revoking TPS would have catastrophic consequences for these families and the communities that depend on their labor. For example, Sydney and Marlene Doe, two of the individual plaintiffs, fled Haiti in 2018 and have since settled their family in Massachusetts, where Sydney is a real estate broker and business owner, and Marlene is a Certified Nursing Assistant who was on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Haitians and Venezuelans with TPS have been integral to our economy and society—filling critical labor gaps, starting businesses, and building strong communities,” said Victoria Miranda, Senior Attorney at LCR. “Terminating their protections isn’t just wrong—it’s illegal. We will not let racist and xenophobic policies destabilize Black and Latino immigrant communities.”
“Cutting the TPS date for Haiti short will have significant implications for Haitian immigrants in the U.S. who depend on this status to avoid deportation and maintain legal work authorization,” said Dieufort J. Fleurissaint (Pastor Keke), Executive Director of HAU. He added, “the community is anxious about the sudden loss of legal status, the possibility of facing deportation to unstable conditions in Haiti, and potential difficulties in finding alternative legal pathways in the U.S.”
“The Venezuelan community continues to lament the relentless political repression, economic collapse, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in our home country. Terminating TPS would force thousands into grave danger, tearing apart families who have spent years building lives and strengthening communities here,” said Carlos Martin Medina, leader of VAM. “Revoking TPS would not only harm these hardworking families but also destabilize the communities they’ve helped to strengthen. We stand united with our Haitian brothers and sisters in this fight for justice, dignity, and the fundamental right to security and a future free from fear,” he added.
“UndocuBlack Network is proud to stand against racism in all its forms, including when it comes from the U.S. government. No one is above the law—those in power must be held accountable at even the slightest abuse of that power,” said Patrice Lawrance, Executive Director of UBN. “Our members have endured emotional, financial, and physical hardship due to the Trump administration’s cruel and unjust decision to prematurely end TPS for Haiti. We all deserve a just and fair future—one that is not dictated by racism or dishonesty, nor one where our lives are treated as a gamble,” she added.
LCR and its partners are calling on the court to block the termination of TPS and protect the legal rights of thousands of immigrants who rely on this vital status.
The Complaint is available here.