Temporary Protected Status for more than 300,000 Haitians living in the United States is scheduled to expire under the latest court-imposed deadline, potentially exposing those without another legal status to arrest and deportation.

Protections for approximately 6,000 Syrians are also ending as the Trump administration moves forward with one of the largest terminations of TPS since beginning its immigration crackdown.

The expiration follows a June 25 Supreme Court decision permitting the administration to terminate TPS designations for Haiti and Syria. Lower-court orders temporarily preserved the protections and associated work permits, but the most recent extension for Haitians lasted only through July 27.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to increase operations involving former Haitian TPS recipients, according to a source familiar with the planning. Those operations could be altered by additional court decisions or changes in federal guidance.

Florida, home to one of the country’s largest Haitian populations, could experience some of the most significant enforcement activity. Springfield, Ohio, which received thousands of Haitian immigrants in recent years, may also be affected.

TPS allows nationals of countries experiencing war, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to remain and work legally in the United States for a limited period. Congress created the program through the Immigration Act of 1990.

The status is temporary and does not itself provide recipients with permanent residency or a path to citizenship. Designations can be extended repeatedly if the federal government determines that conditions in the affected country remain unsafe.

Haiti received its initial TPS designation following the catastrophic 2010 earthquake. The protection was repeatedly extended amid political instability, natural disasters and increasing gang violence. Syria was designated in 2012 during that country’s civil war.

The Trump administration determined that conditions no longer justified continuing the two designations. The Supreme Court ruled that decisions by the secretary of homeland security to terminate a country’s TPS designation are generally beyond judicial review.

The ruling did not determine that Haiti or Syria is safe. It instead concluded that federal law gives the executive branch broad authority over whether TPS protections should continue.

Haitians and Syrians who obtained permanent residency, asylum or another valid immigration status will not become deportable merely because TPS ends. Those relying exclusively upon TPS, however, could lose both their deportation protection and authorization to work legally in the United States.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that the administration intends to enforce the deadline.

“What we would say now is it’s closing time, which means you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here,” the spokesperson said.

DHS General Counsel James Percival also encouraged recipients with expiring protections to leave voluntarily through the government’s self-departure program.

“For those with an expiring TPS designation, these final days provide one last opportunity to accept $2,600 and a free flight home,” Percival wrote on X. “We strongly suggest you take advantage of this generous offer.”

The administration has not publicly disclosed the size or timing of any enforcement operation. DHS said it does not discuss ongoing or future law-enforcement activities.

Additional deadlines involving TPS recipients from other countries are expected as the administration continues reviewing and terminating designations it believes have continued beyond their temporary purpose.

The latest developments leave hundreds of thousands of Haitians facing a stark decision: secure another legal basis for remaining in the United States, depart voluntarily with federal assistance or risk detention and removal once their temporary protections are gone.

Supreme Court decision summary | University and court deadline information | TPS background and current figures

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