California Attorney General Rob Bonta co-led a group of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on Mar. 16, urging the court to reject efforts by the Trump Administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The brief was filed in the case Miot v. Trump and opposes a federal notice that would terminate TPS for Haiti effective Feb. 3, 2026.
The issue is significant because TPS allows immigrants from countries facing dangerous conditions to live and work legally in the United States. According to Attorney General Bonta, ending these protections could have immediate and severe effects on families, local economies, public health, and safety across California and other states.
“The Trump Administration’s attempt to terminate Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status is not only unlawful, but it betrays the promise that this country stands as a place of safety and opportunity for all,” said Bonta. “Haitian TPS holders came to the U.S. to seek refuge from natural disasters, violence, and political instability in their home country. They are our neighbors, our caregivers, our teachers, and our friends. To strip their protections would not just disrupt their lives, it would harm communities up and down our state, our economy, public health, and public safety. I urge the Supreme Court to uphold the lower court’s order and reject the Trump Administration’s attempt to jam through termination of Haiti’s TPS designation.”
The coalition’s brief argues that allowing termination would cause widespread harm: families could face separation; local economies could lose $4.4 billion contributed annually by Haitian TPS holders; public revenues could drop by an estimated $19 billion in property taxes; many people might lose employer-sponsored health insurance; and community safety could be affected if individuals become less likely to report crime.
Despite acknowledging ongoing violence and instability in Haiti—conditions that have led many people there to flee—the Department of Homeland Security moved forward with terminating TPS for Haitians while the U.S. State Department continues its highest risk travel advisory for Haiti.
Bonta has previously led or joined similar legal actions defending immigrant rights and challenging attempts at early termination of TPS designations for both Haitians and Venezuelans.
The California Attorney General’s office promotes transparency through tools like OpenJustice for publishing criminal justice data according to its official website. It serves as an integral part of California’s executive branch as outlined in the state constitution and acts as chief law enforcement authority statewide focusing on enforcing laws. The office advances policies related to civil rights, consumer economic security, and environmental justice according to its official website, under Bonta’s leadership across all of California.
Looking ahead, Bonta said he remains committed to protecting immigrants living in California as legal challenges continue.
