New York Attorney General Letitia James has led a coalition of 15 attorneys general in supporting the continuation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. The group filed an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, urging the court to uphold a lower court’s decision that found the federal government’s attempt to end TPS unlawful.
“Haitian and Venezuelan TPS holders contribute immensely to our communities by starting businesses, raising families, and attending our schools,” said Attorney General James. “This administration’s cruel attempt to suddenly and unlawfully end their legal status will threaten hundreds of thousands of immigrants who fled violence and oppression to build a better life in this country. I will keep fighting to protect the rights of our immigrant communities.”
The Trump administration had sought to terminate TPS protections for Haitians and Venezuelans soon after these protections were extended by the Biden administration. According to warnings from the U.S. State Department, both Haiti and Venezuela continue to face humanitarian crises that make returning unsafe for many individuals. If TPS is revoked, many could lose work authorization and face deportation.
Attorney General James and her colleagues argue that ending TPS would have significant negative effects on public health, safety, and local economies across the United States. They cite data showing that in 2022, tens of thousands of U.S. citizen children lived with Haitian or Venezuelan TPS holders—about 54,000 with Venezuelan parents and 87,000 with Haitian parents—as well as large numbers of adult family members. Revoking TPS could force families into difficult decisions about whether to separate or move together back to countries facing instability.
The coalition also notes economic contributions from these groups: Venezuelan TPS holders contribute over $11 billion annually nationwide, while Haitian TPS holders add $4.4 billion each year. In New York alone in 2023, households with TPS earned $2.3 billion in income, paid nearly $349 million in federal taxes, more than $305 million in state and local taxes, and generated $1.6 billion in spending power.
Losing work authorization would not only affect families’ incomes but also put employer-sponsored health care at risk for many individuals.
Attorney General James has previously taken similar actions defending TPS for other immigrant groups from Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, as well as leading efforts specifically focused on Haitian immigrants throughout 2024.
Other states joining New York in filing this brief include California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state as well as the District of Columbia.
