Overview
- The Justice Department filed an emergency application on Feb. 26 seeking to lift the block on ending Temporary Protected Status for Syrians and inviting a broader ruling that curbs judicial review of TPS terminations.
- U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla halted the termination in November, and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Feb. 17 declined to pause her order.
- The Supreme Court directed the challengers to respond by March 5, so the injunction remains in effect while the case proceeds.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem concluded Syria no longer qualifies after the 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad and shifts in governance and U.S. policy.
- Seven Syrian plaintiffs argue return would be dangerous and that DHS violated procedural requirements, while about 6,000 Syrians could lose work authorization and face deportation exposure if TPS ends.