Judge blocks Trump admin from ending Haitian immigrant protections early

Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan said in the ruling that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn't follow the mandated timeline to get rid of a TPS designation.

• "Secretary Noem does not have statutory or inherent authority to partially vacate a country's TPS designation," Cogan wrote, calling the action "unlawful."
• The interest of Haitians' living and working in the U.S. "far outweigh any harm to the Government from a postponement," the judge said.

What they're saying: "This ruling delays justice and seeks to kneecap the President's constitutionally vested powers under Article II," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios in am emailed statement. "Haiti's TPS was granted following an earthquake that took place over 15 years ago, it was never intended to be a de facto asylum program, yet that's how previous administrations have used it for decades."

Catch up quick: Former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had extended TPS for Haitians until February 2026 before Trump took office.

• Noem vacated that decision in February this year, saying TPS eligibility for Haitians would end Aug. 3, 2025.
• She announced last week that the TPS designation would expire effective Sept. 2.

Zoom out: President Trump amplified baseless claims about Haitian Americans while vowing to crack down on illegal immigration during his 2024 election campaign.

• Trump said at the time that he'd end TPS designations for Haitians as he and his supporters spread false information about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.

Flashback: Trump rolls back protections for about 520,000 Haitian migrants

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from Homeland Security.