The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on 25 June 2026 that Haitian and Syrian Temporary Protected Status holders are not entitled to court orders postponing the termination of their countries' TPS designations while litigation continues. The decision in the consolidated cases Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot reverses lower-court interim relief. It directly affects roughly 350,000 Haitian TPS holders and 6,000 Syrian TPS holders, according to reporting reviewed against the Court's opinion. The ruling permits the Department of Homeland Security to proceed with the terminations, but individuals still need to check current DHS and USCIS guidance for the exact effect on their own TPS and employment documents.
What TPS provides
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian programme for eligible nationals of countries affected by armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary conditions. While a designation remains active, eligible beneficiaries can receive protection from removal and apply for work authorization. TPS does not by itself create a route to permanent residence or citizenship, and it does not replace any separate immigration status a person may hold. Haiti was designated after the 2010 earthquake, while Syria was designated in 2012 amid the country's civil war. Both designations were extended repeatedly before the federal government announced their termination in 2025.
What the Court decided
Justice Samuel Alito wrote the controlling opinion. The Court held that the TPS statute bars judicial review of non-constitutional challenges to the process and decisions surrounding a TPS termination. It also concluded that the Haitian plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on their equal-protection claim alleging that the termination was motivated by race. The judgment reverses the lower courts and sends the cases back for further proceedings consistent with the ruling. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
What the ruling changes
- Lower-court orders postponing the Haiti and Syria TPS terminations are reversed
- Non-constitutional challenges to TPS termination decisions are barred from judicial review under the Court's reading of the statute
- The Haitian plaintiffs' equal-protection claim was found unlikely to succeed at this stage
- DHS may proceed with the terminations announced for Haiti and Syria
- The decision does not determine whether any individual has a separate basis to remain or work in the United States
Who is affected
The immediate group is made up of Haitian and Syrian nationals whose permission to remain and work depends on TPS. Someone who also holds another valid immigration status, has an independently valid employment authorization document or has a separate application pending may face a different outcome. Employers also need to distinguish TPS-based work authorization from other employment documents before taking action. The decision has broader implications because the administration has moved to end TPS for other countries, but each designation and any associated employment-document guidance still has its own record and dates.
What to verify now
Affected TPS holders should review the latest country-specific notice from DHS or USCIS and the expiration information printed on their own documents. The Supreme Court opinion resolves the legal question about the interim court orders; it is not a replacement for agency instructions on document validity, employment verification or removal procedures. Employers should wait for official I-9 and reverification guidance and should not assume that every Haitian or Syrian employee has the same status. Anyone relying on TPS alone should obtain advice from a qualified US immigration lawyer or accredited representative about their individual record and any separate form of relief.
Do not rely on a generic deadline
The Court's ruling allows the terminations to proceed, but the exact effect on a person's work authorization depends on the governing Federal Register notice, subsequent DHS or USCIS guidance and that person's documents. Check the official country-specific TPS page before acting.
Key Takeaway
The Supreme Court removed the orders postponing the Haiti and Syria TPS terminations; affected holders now need current DHS or USCIS guidance for their individual status and work authorization.