The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with policies that may lead to deporting hundreds of thousands of migrants and prevent asylum seekers from entering the southern border.
Both 6-3 decisions followed ideological lines, showing increased support for presidential authority over immigration as the court nears rulings on cases that could further expand executive power.
One case permitted ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti, Syria, and other nations. The program, established in 1990, offers legal residency to those escaping war or disasters. The change could impact 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians.
TPS designations depend on the homeland security secretary, who can extend or terminate them based on conditions in migrants’ home countries. The law requires consulting other agencies, including the State Department, before changes. Critics say the administration ignored these steps.
For Haiti, rights groups accused officials of racial bias. They cited Trump’s past remarks, including false claims that Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, ate pets and his description of Haiti as a “filthy, dirty, disgusting” country.
Related: 7 Tips that Should Help You Start Up a Profitable Retail Business
During April arguments, liberal justices questioned whether ending TPS for Haitians was racially motivated. Justice Elena Kagan’s dissent noted Trump’s statements “clearly suggest race influenced the decision to remove Haitians.”
The administration’s solicitor general, D. John Sauer, dismissed these concerns, arguing federal law prevents courts from reviewing TPS decisions. The statute bars “judicial review of any determination” by the secretary.
Lower courts had blocked the terminations, ruling the process was flawed. The Supreme Court’s decision overturned those rulings.
TPS holders include engineers, doctors, students, and caregivers who built lives in the U.S. Their lawyers say sending them back to Syria or Haiti would endanger them.
The homeland security secretary can extend TPS for six to 18 months, with no renewal limits. Protections for Haiti and Syria were often extended, making them nearly permanent until last year, when then-Secretary Kristi Noem ended them.
Related: 3 tips for creating a great resume
Both sides agreed that once TPS ends, beneficiaries lose legal status and must leave. Advocates argue the administration did not properly assess conditions in the affected nations, as required.
The court’s majority, in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, said the law grants the executive wide discretion. “The text is clear and broad,” he wrote.
The second case reinstated a policy blocking migrants from entering the U.S. to claim asylum.
The rulings represent a major shift in immigration policy, giving the president broad power to decide who stays in the country.
For businesses handling these shifts, understanding digital visibility can help adapt to new challenges.