Supreme Court Appears Divided On Allowing Trump To End Protections for Haitian and Syrian Migrants

Several conservative Supreme Court justices appear ready to allow the Trump administration to go through with ending humanitarian protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Haiti and Syria, but two other conservatives — who could become swing votes — are voicing some skepticism.The justices heard arguments Wednesday in Mullin v. Doe, a case that is part of President Trump’s push to reshape immigration policies.The case involves the Temporary Protected Status program that allows migrants to legally stay in the country due to violence, war, or natural disaster in their homeland. Critics say the program has been wrongly used to subvert the normal immigration process. There are around 1.3 million people from 17 countries in America under the program.The homeland security secretary at the time, Kristi Noem, announced plans last year to end protections for Haitians and Syrians saying it was “contrary to the national interest” for them to remain in America.Federal judges have blocked the government from ending the program as the case plays out.Advocates have argued that Ms. Noem did not carry out a proper review with the State Department to determine whether it was safe for the migrants to return to the countries they were fleeing.The solicitor general, John Sauer, defended the administration in front of the Nine and argued that, under the program’s wording, judges can’t review a Department of Homeland Security decision to terminate legal protections. Mr. Sauer cited a provision in the law that there is “no judicial review of any determination.”The department determined that conditions were improving in Haiti and Syria and the migrants could return home. The three liberal-leaning justices questioned Mr. Sauer over that point, asking if judges can weigh arguments about whether Homeland Security followed the steps required under the law to make its determination. They wanted to know how much Ms. Noem consulted with the State Department about country conditions before ending the program.Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett also signaled that they had concerns with the administration’s position.Justice Barrett — who has adopted children from Haiti — also asked whether race played a role in the decision to end the program. Mr. Sauer said the administration denied race had any role.This isn’t the first time the Supreme Court has considered a case over the Temporary Protected Status program. Last year, the justices overruled a lower court ruling that blocked the Trump administration from lifting protections for around 300,000 Venezuelans.A decision in Wednesday’s case is expected by early July.

Supreme Court Appears Divided On Allowing Trump To End Protections for Haitian and Syrian Migrants

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