WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court seemed open to President Donald Trump’s attempt to end deportation protections for Syrians and Haitians, hearing oral arguments on April 29 in a case that also affects hundreds of thousands of other immigrants allowed to live and work legally in the United States.
Curtailing the humanitarian program is a significant part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict immigration, which also includes his attempt to limit birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court is already considering that issue.
On April 29, the justices debated whether the administration followed the law when ending deportation protections for Syrians and Haitians – and whether courts are even allowed to review those decisions.
The Haitians' case involves the separate issue of whether ending the Temporary Status Program for those foreign citizens was racially motivated.
Trump has repeatedly maligned Haitian immigrants, including falsely accusing Haitians living in Ohio of eating people’s pets. During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised “large deportations in Springfield.”
