New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Apr. 13 that she co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the Court to uphold the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Haiti and Syria who have lived in the United States for years.
The coalition argues that canceling Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for these immigrants would threaten families, disrupt state economies, and jeopardize the futures of U.S. citizen children born to TPS holders. The attorneys general are asking the Supreme Court to maintain lower court decisions that postponed termination of TPS for Haiti and Syria.
“For generations, we have welcomed those fleeing danger in their home countries to build a safe and prosperous life in the United States,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Immigrants with TPS hold valuable roles in our communities as business owners, workers, teachers, and parents. We will continue to stand against the Trump administration’s illegal attempts to cancel their legal status and tear families apart.”
TPS has allowed Haitians since 2010 and Syrians since 2012 to live and work legally in the U.S., following armed conflict or natural disasters in their home countries. According to Attorney General James’s office, New York is home to tens of thousands of TPS holders—including at least 5,400 Haitian TPS holders living in New York City—and nationwide there are about 350,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians with this protected status.
The brief states that Haitian TPS holders contribute $3.4 billion annually while Syrian TPS holders add $165 million each year to the U.S. economy through employment or business ownership—Syrian immigrants reportedly own businesses at more than triple the rate of U.S.-born citizens.
If terminated, many families could be forced into unsafe situations: either staying without secure legal status or returning to dangerous conditions abroad as designated by federal authorities due to ongoing violence or instability. The State Department warns Americans not to travel to either country because of risks including violence and limited health care access—the same reasons behind granting TPS initially.
James also said ending TPS would raise public health risks if workers lose health insurance or avoid medical care out of fear; it could also deter reporting crimes or cooperating with law enforcement.
Joining James are attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island Virginia Vermont Washington as well as Washington D.C.
Letitia James heads the New York Attorney General, which operates as a public law enforcement agency addressing local issues through regional offices across New York State according to its official website. The office promotes social justice through civil rights enforcement while protecting consumers’ rights according to its official website. Services include consumer fraud investigations charities oversight tenant dispute mediation among others according to its official website.
