Following yesterday’s United States Supreme Court decision that would allow the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, Texas Democrats are arguing it will threaten families, workers and communities across the country.
The ruling, which comes as the court races to make some of its most controversial opinions before the end of the term, could lead to the deportation of thousands of Syrians and Haitians. It also fuels President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown by ending the TPS program entirely, which was created by bipartisan efforts decades ago to help protect immigrants fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries.
“Today, the Supreme Court decided to become a partner in Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, rather than a branch of government that carries out legitimate judicial review,” Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) said shortly after the ruling was made.
Rep. Castro emphasized that the TPS program was created to allow Haitians and Syrians to work in the U.S., making them crucial contributors to our economy.
“They’re folks that are raising families, building businesses. They’re healthcare workers. They’re teachers,” Rep. Castro said. “They’re folks who are building the economy of this country.”
In 2023, TPS holders added $4.3 billion to Texas’ economy and supported about 117,000 jobs. Nationally, TPS holders contribute about $5.9 billion to the economy each year and pay around $1.5 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
Along with providing legal protection and financial stability, TPS has helped these immigrants escape what Rep. Castro said are the very places “our own State Department tells Americans they should not travel to.” Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) echoed a similar sentiment.
“Temporary Protected Status holders are not strangers,” Rep. Menefee said. “They fled unimaginable violence, political persecution, natural disasters and humanitarian crises to build better lives.”
Rep. Menefee said that denying this protection to up to 350,000 people is unjust.
“Forcing people back to countries plagued by violence, political instability and humanitarian catastrophe is not security, it is just heartless and wrong,” Rep. Menefee said.
