US extends TPS for Haitians by two weeks due to court order

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has granted a two-week extension for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and employment authorization for roughly 350,000 Haitian nationals residing in the United States. This administrative adjustment, set to expire on July 24, stems from a court mandate. The extension temporarily postpones the expiration of work documents previously scheduled for July 10.

The measure follows a legal setback for TPS beneficiaries, who lost a Supreme Court case challenging the Trump administration's earlier decision to terminate the program. After the Supreme Court's ruling, the White House urged Haitian citizens under TPS to seek alternative immigration statuses or depart the U.S.

Haiti was initially designated for TPS after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. The program shields eligible foreign nationals from deportation and provides work permits when their home countries face severe institutional crises, armed conflicts, or natural disasters that prevent safe return.

The potential permanent termination of TPS has sparked concern among various economic sectors, given the significant labor contributions of the Haitian community. Human Rights Watch data indicates that Florida hosts approximately 158,000 TPS beneficiaries, many employed in essential industries such as healthcare, elder care, construction, and hospitality. Their economic impact on Florida is estimated at $2.6 billion annually. USCIS advises beneficiaries to monitor official channels for further updates on the program's status.