U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing a large-scale enforcement operation targeting Haitian nationals expected to lose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the coming days, according to multiple federal sources who spoke with Fox News.
The operation could begin as early as this week, following a Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for the Trump administration to end legal protections for more than 300,000 Haitian migrants.
Supreme Court Clears Path for TPS Termination
According to Fox News, the Supreme Court’s certified judgment is expected to be transmitted to lower courts Monday, allowing the administration to move forward with terminating Haiti’s TPS designation.
Last month, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions that had temporarily blocked the administration from ending Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Haiti and Syria while legal challenges proceeded.
The ruling represents a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has argued that TPS was intended as a temporary humanitarian measure—not a permanent immigration status.
Ohio Expected to Be Major Focus
Federal sources told Fox News that Ohio is expected to be one of the primary targets of the expanded enforcement effort.
Officials reportedly cited Springfield, Ohio, as a particular focus because of its large Haitian population, though reports have suggested that many migrants have evacuated the town in anticipation of immigration enforcement actions.
According to the report, ICE leadership has already been briefed on the operational plans.
Springfield became the center of the national immigration debate following the sudden and rapid growth of its Haitian population, which became a major issue during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump Administration Says TPS Was Never Meant to Be Permanent
Temporary Protected Status was first granted to Haiti following the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake.
The designation allows eligible nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States for a limited period.
The Trump administration has argued that the program has expanded far beyond its original purpose.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson called the ruling “a tremendous win” for the administration.
“Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what President Trump has always maintained: temporary protected status is, by definition, temporary. It was never intended to be a pathway to permanent status or legal residency,” Jackson told Fox News Digital.
“The Trump Administration continues to lawfully end the egregious abuses to our immigration system that have hurt Americans for years.”
DHS Praises Decision
Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival also celebrated the ruling in a post on X.
“The Court vindicates DHS yet again,” Percival wrote. “The T in TPS stands for TEMPORARY, yet many of these designations became de facto amnesty. This is a win for the rule of law and common sense.”
The administration has repeatedly argued that some TPS designations have effectively granted long-term legal statuses despite its intended purposes.
The legal fight over Haiti’s TPS designation has been one of several immigration disputes to reach the Supreme Court during Trump’s second term as the administration seeks to restore American immigration policy through expanded enforcement and the rollback of programs that keep many migrants in the country.
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