The coalition argues in its brief that cancelling TPS for the affected populations 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 attorney general's office.
Approximately 350,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians currently hold TPS nationwide, the press release said. New York is home to tens of thousands of TPS holders, including at least 5,400 Haitian TPS holders in New York City. TPS has been extended to Haitian immigrants since 2010 and to Syrian immigrants since 2012.
The brief cites economic data from the affected 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, according to the attorney general's office. Haitian TPS holders contribute $3.4 billion annually.
Tens of thousands of Haitian TPS holders work in health care and other services, the release said, particularly in New York, where they fill roles as home health aides. James said in the release that immigrants with TPS hold valuable roles in communities as business owners, workers, teachers, and parents.
The coalition argues that terminating the status would force immigrants to either remain in the U.S. without secure legal status or return to home countries the federal government has designated as extremely dangerous. The State Department has warned Americans not to travel to either Haiti or Syria, citing risks of violence, terrorism, civil unrest, and limited health care, according to the release.
Ending legal status would increase public health and safety risks, the coalition warns. Many TPS holders would lose health insurance, shifting costs to states, and would be less willing to visit hospitals or report crimes for fear of encountering immigration enforcement, per the brief's arguments summarized in the release.
According to the release, James has filed a series of briefs defending TPS. In March, she co-led 18 other attorneys general in urging the Supreme Court to uphold TPS for Haitians. In February, she co-led 17 other attorneys general in an amicus filing at the D.C. Circuit supporting TPS for Haitians. In November 2025, she led a 16-state coalition defending TPS for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants, and in July 2025 co-led a 15-state coalition defending TPS for immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.
Joining James on 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, Washington, and the District of Columbia.