FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: media@vera.org

Today, in a 6–3 ruling, the Supreme Court decided that the Trump administration can cut off Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians pending litigation in the lower courts. This ruling was the result of SCOTUS determining that the President’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status is largely shielded from any judicial review, even when statutorily required procedures were violated in the process. The Court also found that the plaintiffs were unlikely to prevail on their constitutional claims. In response, the Vera Institute of Justice has issued the following statement:

“By allowing the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from Haiti and Syria, the Supreme Court has opened the door to the president’s broader effort to dismantle TPS for all 1.3 million holders,” said Insha Rahman, president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice. “This ruling underscores a troubling reality: too many immigrants in the United States, who have spent years contributing to their communities, remain trapped in temporary statuses that can be revoked at the whim of political agendas. With so many people now in danger of being deported, the need for a federal right to legal representation in immigration court and meaningful pathways to legal status that provide stability instead of chaos is critical. Congress must act.”

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About the Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal justice and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.