Attorney General Raoul Defends Haitian and Venezuelan Immigrants' Temporary Protected Status

CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, took action to defend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants, including many who have lived, worked and raised their families in the United States for years. In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, Raoul and the coalition urge the court to uphold a lower court’s ruling that found the administration’s termination of TPS unlawful.

“Haitians and Venezuelans who hold TPS designations have fled conflicts and environmental disasters in their home countries. Raoul said. “I am the proud son of Haitian immigrants, and I know firsthand that Haitians and Venezuelans make key contributions to their communities and our state and national economies. Temporary Protected Status helps these immigrants work toward a better life for their families while also contributing to the nation’s workforce.”

Despite ongoing humanitarian crises in both Haiti and Venezuela, and warnings from the U.S. State Department concerning the two countries’ safety, the Trump administration attempted to terminate TPS protections for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants shortly after the Biden administration extended them. This sudden termination of legal status is likely to cause chaos and confusion for hundreds of thousands of people across the country – many of whom fled violence, oppression and poverty to build a life in the United States.

Raoul and the coalition argue in their brief that the United States District Court for the Northern District of California correctly found that the administration’s action was arbitrary, capricious and contrary to the law.

The attorneys general explain that hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens who live with a Haitian or Venezuelan TPS holder would be put at risk and families would face separation. In 2022, approximately 54,000 U.S. citizen children and 80,000 U.S. citizen adults lived with a Venezuelan TPS holder, and about 87,000 U.S. citizen children and 116,000 U.S. citizen adults lived with a Haitian TPS holder. Revoking TPS for these communities would leave many without work authorization, jeopardizing their ability to provide for their families.

Raoul and the coalition also highlight the significant economic contributions of Haitian and Venezuelan TPS holders. Nationwide, Venezuelan TPS holders contribute over $11 billion to the economy each year. Haitian TPS holders contribute $4.4 billion annually.

Joining Attorney General Raoul in filing the brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

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