The coalition argues that the Trump administration's attempt to cancel TPS for hundreds of thousands of people threatens the lives and livelihoods of families across the country, disrupts state economies, and jeopardizes the futures of immigrants' U.S. citizen children.
According to the press release, TPS has been extended to immigrants from Haiti since 2010 and to immigrants from Syria since 2012. Nationwide, there are approximately 350,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians with TPS. New York is home to tens of thousands of TPS holders, including at least 5,400 Haitian TPS holders in New York City.
The brief highlights the economic contributions of these populations. Syrian immigrants own businesses at more than triple the rate of U.S.-born citizens, and Syrian TPS holders contribute $165 million annually to the U.S. economy. Haitian TPS holders contribute $3.4 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
Tens of thousands of Haitian TPS holders work in health care and other critical services, particularly in New York, where TPS holders fill valuable roles as home health aides. Attorney General James stated that immigrants with TPS hold valuable roles in communities as business owners, workers, teachers, and parents.
The coalition argues that terminating TPS would force vulnerable immigrants to either remain in the U.S. without secure legal status or return to dangerous conditions in their home countries. The federal government has designated conditions in Haiti and Syria as extremely dangerous, with the State Department warning Americans not to travel to either country due to risks of violence, terrorism, civil unrest, and limited health care.
The coalition warns that ending legal status would increase public health and safety risks. Many TPS holders would lose health insurance, increasing health care costs for states. Without legal status, TPS holders would be less willing to visit hospitals or report crimes to law enforcement for fear of encountering immigration enforcement officers.
Attorney General James has consistently taken action to defend TPS from the Trump administration's attacks. In March, she co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in urging the Supreme Court to uphold TPS for Haitians. In February, she co-led a coalition of 17 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in support of TPS for Haitians.
In November 2025, Attorney General James led 15 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief to defend TPS for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. In July 2025, she co-led a coalition of 14 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief defending TPS for immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.
Joining Attorney General James in filing the current brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia.