The US Supreme Court has issued two critical rulings in favor of the Trump administration's immigration policies. The court ruled that individuals from Haiti and Syria cannot challenge in federal courts the termination of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). It also determined that migrants turned back at the southern border before entering the US do not have the right to apply for asylum.
The 6-3 ruling in the case Mullin v. Doe sparked strong reactions in Democratic-led states, particularly New York and Massachusetts.
New York pledges resistance
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced at a press conference in Manhattan that the state would resist the decision. Hochul stated they would designate sensitive areas to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and would impose a mask ban on immigration enforcers.
"This is New York. We fight. We defend our people," Hochul said. New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams accused the Trump administration of acting through a "white supremacist lens."
Emotional plea from Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, home to roughly 45,000 TPS holders, Governor Maura Healey said the ruling "makes no sense for families, the economy, or communities." Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, visibly emotional, directly addressed immigrants: "You belong here."
Healthcare system warning
The ruling also caused a rift within the Republican Party. New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler said he did not question the president's authority to end TPS but warned that the move could trigger a crisis in the US healthcare system.
Lawler noted that about one-third of more than 350,000 legal Haitian TPS holders work in healthcare, stating, "An abrupt end of TPS would create a crisis in our hospitals, nursing homes, and the developmental disability community."
White House hails victory
The White House and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hailed the ruling as a victory for the rule of law. White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, "Temporary Protected Status is, by definition, temporary. It was never designed as a pathway to permanent status or legal residency."
DHS General Counsel James Percival posted on social media, "The T in TPS stands for temporary, but many of these designations became de facto amnesty. This is a victory for the rule of law and common sense."
