No Borders NewsIllinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in urging Congress to act quickly to protect people with Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In a letter to congressional leaders, the group asked lawmakers to extend TPS protections for Haitians and address the uncertainty created by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
The coalition points to the Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe, which upheld the termination of TPS for Haitians and Syrians and, according to the letter, set up a framework that could allow TPS protections for other countries to be revoked without judicial oversight or review. The attorneys general say this has created uncertainty for more than 1 million TPS holders nationwide.
Raoul and the coalition argue that ending or failing to extend Haitian TPS could have serious humanitarian and economic effects. They cite ongoing instability in Haiti, including risks such as crime and kidnapping, and note that the U.S. State Department currently lists Haiti as “Level 4 Do Not Travel.” They also describe how Haitian TPS holders contribute to the U.S. economy through work and taxes.
The letter asks Congress to pass H.R. 1689/S.4814, which the coalition says would extend TPS protections for Haiti. The coalition also requests additional legislation that would provide courts with a way to review TPS decisions and would create a pathway for TPS holders to get permanent legal status.
This is a policy and advocacy effort by state officials, not a change to TPS rules by Illinois. For the most accurate details on the bills and the Supreme Court decision’s implications, readers may want to review the official letter and the underlying court ruling through the sources linked below.