Coalition of local governments urges U.S. Supreme Court to preserve protections for Haitian, Syrian communities

WASHINGTON — Today, Public Rights Project filed an amicus brief, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Haitian residents and 6,000 Syrian residents. 

Representing some of the largest Haitian and Syrian populations in the U.S., a coalition of 47 local governments, mayors and local leaders asked the court to deny the government’s request and uphold two district courts’ decisions that would preserve TPS. New York City and Los Angeles County are part of the coalition.

If TPS is revoked, hundreds of thousands of people living and working in the U.S. for years, and even decades, would have their legal status and work authorization stripped and could face immediate deportation. 

“Stripping legal status away from entire communities is both cruel and reckless,” said Jill Habig, founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “The administration is once again attempting to destabilize cities across the country and forcing local governments to pick up the pieces. We’re proud to stand with the local government leaders fighting to protect caregivers, nurses and business owners who provide essential services to us all.”

The brief details the harms to local governments if TPS is ended, including:

1. Damage to local economies. TPS-eligible Haitians contribute between $4.4 billion and $5.9 billion annually to the U.S. economy, while Syrian TPS holders contribute more than $100 million annually. Communities will be forced to cut services without these funds.
2. Threats to essential services and local workforces. Many Haitian and Syrian TPS holders work in health care and elder care — fields already facing labor shortages. Losing these workers would severely impact services that local governments depend on to care for their residents.
3. Multiple and interconnected burdens on local government. Mass deportation means family separation, straining foster systems. School enrollment will drop, reducing education funding. And without income, many families could face poverty and homelessness, increasing their reliance on public assistance.
4. Potential surges in federal immigration enforcement: ICE operations reduce public safety and force local governments to divert resources away from other critical work to respond to mass demonstrations and violence from ICE agents.

This is PRP’s second amicus brief in Trump v. Miot, which has since been consolidated with Mullin v. Doe, a similar case involving Syrian TPS holders. Trump v. Miot was filed in 2025 after the Trump administration tried to end TPS for more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants. A district court blocked the attempt and an appeals court refused to stop the lower court’s decision. 

On March 11, the Trump administration appealed and asked the court to allow it to end TPS for Haitian immigrants. The court agreed to hear the case and oral arguments are scheduled for April 29. A decision is expected by late June.

The full list of mayors, cities and counties that joined is included in the brief. 

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