US Supreme Court Weighs Fate of Haitian and Syrian Temporary Protected Status

The Supreme Court Showdown

The United States Supreme Court has begun to hear a case on whether the administration of President Donald Trump may strip the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians living in the country.

Understanding Temporary Protected Status

The hearing specifically concerns whether Trump may end “temporary protected status” (TPS) for citizens of the two countries, which is granted when it is deemed unsafe for individuals to return to their home countries.

The Data Analysis

The court’s eventual decision could have wide-ranging implications beyond the 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians living in the US under TPS. It could throw into jeopardy the future of about 1.3 million people from 17 countries currently living in the US on the status.

The Impact Analysis

Critics have pointed to ongoing political, humanitarian and security crises in Haiti and persistent instability in Syria, which has faced Israeli incursions and spurts of violence after emerging from more than a decade of war.

• 350,000 Haitians living in the US under TPS
• 6,100 Syrians living in the US under TPS
• 1.3 million people from 17 countries currently living in the US on TPS

The Prediction

The Supreme Court’s ruling would have vast implications, deciding “whether immigrant families who have followed the law and built their lives in this country can have their protections stripped away overnight for political purposes”.