U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), one of the most liberal members of the Republican conference, is facing criticism from President Donald Trump’s base after he publicly urged the president to extend temporary protected status for tens of thousands of Haitian nationals living in the United States.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday issued a 6-3 decision that permits the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for nationals of Haiti and Syria. The ruling addressed challenges to decisions by the Department of Homeland Security to end TPS protections, concluding that federal courts generally lack authority to review certain aspects of those determinations under the governing statute.
TPS is a temporary immigration status that provides protection from deportation and eligibility for work authorization to nationals of designated countries facing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent safe return. The decision applies to approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals and roughly 6,100 Syrian nationals who held TPS at the time of the relevant termination announcements.
The ruling affirms broad executive discretion in assessing foreign country conditions and national interest factors when deciding whether to maintain or end TPS designations. It removes certain judicial barriers that had delayed or blocked prior termination efforts in lower courts.
As a result, individuals whose TPS ends may become subject to standard immigration enforcement processes, including potential removal proceedings, unless they qualify for other forms of relief.
The decision is expected to influence litigation involving TPS for other countries and reinforces the administration’s broader approach to limiting extended humanitarian protections in favor of stricter enforcement priorities.
Rep. Lawler, whose congressional district encompasses parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties in New York — including areas with established Haitian communities — has publicly advocated for the maintenance and extension of TPS for Haitian nationals.
Lawler has communicated directly with the administration, including letters to President Trump, and has taken legislative steps to address the issue. He co-led bipartisan legislation (H.R. 1689) with Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) that would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for TPS for an 18-month period beginning August 3, 2025.
In response to Thursday’s ruling, the congressman publicly urged President Trump to reconsider his decision. “While I have never disputed the ability of the President to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), I strongly disagree with ending Haitian TPS at this time,” the congressman posted on X.
“Second, of the 350,000+ lawful Haitian TPS holders, roughly 1/3rd work in our healthcare system. Immediately shutting off TPS will create a crisis in our hospitals, nursing homes, and in the I/DD community,” he added.
“I’m asking the administration to allow for an orderly process by which Haitian TPS holders can maintain their work authorization while their immigration cases are adjudicated over the next six months, if the revocation of TPS moves forward. Furthermore, I believe the Senate should take up my legislation with Congresswoman Gillen to temporarily extend Haitian TPS to address these issues.”
I have consistently advocated for extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals. I co-led H.R. 1689 with Rep. Laura Gillen, urged the Administration on multiple occasions to extend TPS protections, led a bipartisan effort with local officials in support of Haitian… pic.twitter.com/LVEeVJAJtC
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) June 25, 2026
Lawler has repeatedly lobbied to keep Haitian nationals in the United States on a permanent basis. This past April, he voted for H.R. 1689, bipartisan legislation to extend Haiti’s TPS.
In response to his latest advocacy, former Trump nominee Jeremy Carl bluntly stated that the GOP conference would be better off without Lawler. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The worst GOP congressman,” Carl posted on social media.
“He hurts our team more than a Democrat in his seat would. Vote him out — yes, even in the general.”
