Judge Ana C. Reyes granted the federal government an extension on Tuesday to submit the required documents in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) case involving Haitian nationals. The new deadline is set for January 23, 2026, at noon. This deadline is crucial for Haitian TPS holders as it could affect their work permits and heighten fears of deportation, adding urgency to the legal proceedings.
The decision follows a status conference held on January 20, 2026, in Courtroom 12 of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Reyes had convened the hybrid hearing after receiving the government’s motion to reconsider her January 16 order.
In a note signed on January 19, the judge ordered the parties to appear the following day, allowing out-of-town counsel to participate by video.
Judge Reyes also took the opportunity to remind both parties about proper procedures. Observing courtroom etiquette and following procedural rules are crucial components of legal proceedings, as they help ensure that cases progress smoothly and efficiently. Procedural missteps can lead to delays in resolving important issues, such as immigration cases, where every hearing can significantly impact the lives of those involved.
In her January 19 order, she noted that the parties need not expend valuable time and energy briefing an issue before initially raising it with the court.
She indicated that simply reaching out to her chambers to signal that the government wished to be heard on the January 16 order would have been sufficient for her to schedule a hearing on the next business day.
New Deadline: January 23 (just 11 days before TPS is set to lapse)
Following the January 20 hearing, Judge Reyes granted the government’s motion for reconsideration. She ordered the administration to submit to the court and to the plaintiffs a small number of documents cited in the case National TPS Alliance v. Noem, from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, concerning Haiti’s TPS designation, that do not appear in the certified administrative record for this case.
The government has until noon on January 23, 2026, to comply with this order. It may also submit any additional filings on this topic at that time.
Both parties must also file a brief joint status report on the progress of discovery by the same deadline.
This new January 23 deadline places the proceedings less than two weeks before the scheduled expiration of Haitian TPS on February 3, 2026. The plaintiffs, represented in part by the ACLU, are seeking to demonstrate that the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status was made in bad faith or under improper political influence.
The requested documents could shed light on the internal deliberations that led to the November 28, 2025, announcement not to renew TPS for the approximately 200,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States. These deliberations not only carry implications within the legal system but also extend into socioeconomic spheres, influencing the lives of many Haitians both in the U.S. and back home. The decision impacts remittance flows, which have long been a lifeline for families in Haiti, supporting essential needs such as education, healthcare, and local businesses. Moreover, changes in TPS status can disrupt well-established community networks in the U.S., emphasizing the need for transparency in policy decisions that resonate across borders.
