Five Haitian plaintiffs have taken urgent legal action to preserve Temporary Protected Status (TPS), filing critical new evidence with the federal court in Washington as the program faces imminent expiration.
Rudolph Civil, Vilbrun Dorsainvil, Marica Merline Laguerre, Fritz Emmanuel Lesly Miot, and Marlene Gail Noble, represented by their attorney Geoffrey Pipoly, informed the court that they were submitting new sworn personal declarations (written statements confirming facts under oath) as well as a request for alternative forms of relief (additional legal protections the judge could provide besides their initial request).
This filing comes days before TPS expires, as Judge Ana C. Reyes must rule by February 2.
Understanding the Nature of These Filed Documents
Although CTN’s editorial team does not have access to court documents, these sworn declarations could be written and signed testimonies, also called affidavits, in which the plaintiffs explain their situation and why ending TPS (Temporary Protected Status) would pose a danger to them and their families.
These documents allow TPS beneficiaries to directly present their lived experiences, fears, and the concrete consequences of a forced return to Haiti to the judge. These may include testimonies about their integration in the United States, their employment, their children in school, as well as the threats they would face if returned to a country gripped by gang violence. The general public does not have access to documents being processed before district court judges in Washington, D.C.
The mention of “alternative forms of relief” could mean that the plaintiffs’ attorneys are asking the judge to consider other legal options to protect them, in addition to their initial request. In legal terms, “relief” means a specific protection or benefit granted by the court.
In immigration cases, this may include:
- A preliminary injunction, which is a temporary court order blocking the end of TPS while the lawsuit continues
- An emergency order preventing immediate deportations
- Provisional protective measures, which are temporary rules from the court, ensure that TPS beneficiaries will not be arrested or deported during the case review
- Other forms of legal relief are suited to the urgency of the situation
This legal strategy aims to give the judge several avenues to intervene to protect the plaintiffs, even if she determines she cannot grant their primary request.
Critical Timeline
The timing of these filings is crucial. Judge Reyes has set a February 2 deadline to rule on National TPS Alliance et al. v. Noem et al., just one day before TPS is scheduled to expire.
The plaintiffs and their attorneys are urgently presenting all arguments before the deadline, knowing that a favorable decision is the last barrier preventing the termination of TPS for hundreds of thousands of Haitian families.
Background of the Case
The case contests the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS for Haiti, arguing that the Department of Homeland Security did not properly assess the country’s violence and instability before terminating the program.
If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, she could order the government to extend TPS or completely restart the evaluation process on legally sound grounds.
All Eyes on Washington, D.C. Federal Court
Judge Reyes’s decision, expected by February 2, could determine the immediate future of approximately 560,000 Haitians living legally in the United States under temporary protection.
Meanwhile, efforts continue in Congress, where Representative Ayanna Pressley has launched a discharge petition to attempt to save TPS through legislative means, and where Representative Frederica Wilson has sent a letter to President Trump requesting an immediate extension of the program.
Caribbean Television Network will continue to closely monitor this case and will inform the community of any developments.
