Overview
- U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued an indefinite stay hours before the Feb. 3 effective date, keeping protections for roughly 350,000 Haitians in place while the lawsuit proceeds.
- Reyes found the termination was likely motivated in part by racial animus, highlighting Secretary Kristi Noem’s dehumanizing social-media post and including a screenshot in her opinion.
- The court faulted DHS for a minimal administrative record, failure to consult required agencies, and reliance on “gut feeling,” noting the State Department’s “Do not travel to Haiti” advisory.
- DHS said it will appeal, with a spokesperson declaring “Supreme Court, here we come,” as the case tests the limits of judicial review versus agency discretion under the APA and TPS statute.
- Communities and businesses, especially in Florida and New York, report ongoing fear and disruption, and the judge cited billions in annual tax contributions when weighing the public interest.