Supreme Court to hear expedited arguments on protected status for migrants

"Federal law allows presidents to grant TPS for people in the U.S. whose home country is experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, and other extraordinary and temporary conditions. President Trump is seeking to end that status for people from 13 countries, including Myanmar, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Venezuela."

"In an unsigned order, the court agreed with Sauer that the broader TPS question needs to be decided and set expedited arguments for April on several questions. The first is whether TPS designations are reviewable by the courts and if so, whether the TPS holders have some valid claims. Finally, the court will determine whether the TPS holders equal-protection claim fails on the merits."

"The TPS program allows people from specific countries to temporarily live and work in the U.S. while upheaval from an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or another extraordinary and temporary condition in their home country resolves. Syrians have qualified for TPS since 2012, during the Obama administration, due to the brutal crackdown."

The Supreme Court temporarily halted the Trump administration's plan to deport approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians granted Temporary Protected Status under previous administrations. The court expedited the case for April arguments with an expected decision by June. TPS allows presidents to grant temporary residency to foreign nationals whose countries face armed conflict, natural disasters, or extraordinary conditions. Trump seeks to terminate TPS for people from 13 countries including Myanmar, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Venezuela. The Solicitor General argued the Supreme Court should intervene due to lower courts' disregard of prior TPS rulings. The court will address whether TPS designations are judicially reviewable, whether TPS holders have valid claims, and whether equal-protection arguments succeed on their merits.

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