At the beginning of 2025, Haiti was under TPS because of ongoing instability — natural disasters, gang violence, political unrest. The idea was that this status would allow Haitian nationals in the U.S. to stay, work, and avoid deportation temporarily, until it was safe to return home. The status had already been extended earlier.
Then, in February 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rescinded the previous 18-month TPS extension put in place by the Biden administration. DHS announced that without that extension, TPS for Haiti would end on August 3, 2025, with the termination of the designation effective September 2, 2025. Federal Register+2U.S. Department of Homeland Security+2
What Changed: Court Decisions & Updates
After that announcement, legal challenges followed. On July 15, 2025, a U.S. District Court (Eastern District of New York) issued a ruling in Haitian Evangelical Clergy Ass’n v. Trump that blocked the early termination of TPS. The court held that DHS could not terminate Haiti’s TPS designation before February 3, 2026, which was the date that had been established under the prior extension. USCIS+2USCIS+2
Because of that decision:
- The earlier announced end date (September 2, 2025) could not take effect yet. The court made sure TPS remains valid until at least February 3, 2026. USCIS+1
- Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Haitians under TPS (with certain categories “A-12” or “C-19”) that were going to expire are automatically extended to remain valid through that February date. USCIS+2E-Verify+2
What This Means for TPS Holders & Applicants Through February 2025
Even though much of the legal action and news happen mid-2025, as of February 2025 the following were true or were being set in motion:
- Haitians who already had valid TPS could count on having protection and work authorization through the extension period (which by court order, now runs through February 3, 2026). USCIS+1
- The rescinded extension announced in February would have ended TPS earlier, but this was later blocked, so the August/September 2025 termination didn’t go through. USCIS+2USCIS+2
- New or first-time TPS applicants had until August 3, 2025 to file under the initial registration period. That was the deadline under the designation as of mid-2025. USCIS+1
