Salvadoran Immigrant Lorena Zepeda Advocates for CARECEN in Los Angeles

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Wednesday on the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, a case that has drawn intense scrutiny from immigrant communities across the country—particularly Salvadorans, who make up the largest group of TPS holders in the United States.

The legal challenge centers on whether the administration properly assessed conditions in Haiti and Syria before ending protections and whether the decisions were influenced by racial bias against non-white immigrants. While the case directly involves only two countries, its outcome could have sweeping implications for nearly 400,000 people, including an estimated 200,000 Salvadorans who have lived in the U.S. For decades under the program.

What Is Temporary Protected Status?

TPS is a humanitarian program that allows immigrants already in the U.S. To remain legally and obtain work permits if their home countries are deemed unsafe due to armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants TPS in increments of up to 18 months, with the option to renew if conditions persist.

El Salvador was first designated for TPS in 2001 following a series of devastating earthquakes. Since then, Salvadorans have become one of the most established TPS communities in the U.S., with many building careers, raising families, and contributing to local economies. The program’s renewal has been a political flashpoint for years, with advocates arguing that ending it would destabilize hundreds of thousands of lives and disrupt industries reliant on TPS workers.

The Legal Challenge and Its Stakes

The Supreme Court case, consolidated from multiple lawsuits, focuses on the Trump administration’s 2017–2018 decisions to terminate TPS for Haiti, Syria, and several other countries. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who served under President Donald Trump, ended protections for all 12 countries that came up for renewal during her tenure, affecting approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians.

Plaintiffs argue that the administration failed to adequately consider ongoing dangers in these countries, including gang violence, political instability, and economic collapse. They also allege that the decisions were motivated by racial animus, citing statements from Trump and his allies that disparaged immigrants from non-European countries. The administration has countered that TPS was always intended to be temporary and that conditions in the affected nations had improved sufficiently to justify ending protections.

For Salvadorans, the stakes are particularly high. El Salvador’s TPS designation is set to expire on September 9, 2026, and few expect the Trump administration to renew it. President Nayib Bukele, who has cultivated a close relationship with the U.S., has not publicly lobbied for an extension, despite the economic importance of remittances sent by Salvadorans abroad. In 2025, remittances accounted for nearly 25% of El Salvador’s GDP, according to the country’s central bank.

Lives in Limbo

Lorena Zepeda, an immigrant from El Salvador who works for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) in Los Angeles, has been a vocal advocate for TPS holders. In an interview with the Associated Press, she described the anxiety gripping her community as the Supreme Court weighs the case. “People are scared,” she said. “Many of us have been here for 20, 25 years. We have homes, businesses, children who are U.S. Citizens. What happens to them if we’re forced to leave?”

Jose Urias, a Salvadoran TPS holder since 2001, embodies the program’s impact. A general contractor in the Boston area, Urias has built a life in the U.S., founding a company that has constructed over 150 homes. He is also the father of two American-born children. In an interview, he acknowledged the uncertainty but remained cautiously optimistic. “It’s not guaranteed, but it’s not impossible either,” he said. “We’re not giving up.”

Advocacy groups like CARECEN have urged the Biden administration to intervene, either by extending TPS or pushing for legislative solutions that would provide a pathway to permanent residency. However, with Congress gridlocked on immigration reform, the courts remain the most immediate battleground.

A Broader Impact

The case has implications far beyond El Salvador, Haiti, and Syria. When Trump took office in 2017, TPS covered 17 countries and approximately 1.3 million people. Under President Joe Biden, the program expanded to include additional nations, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 2.7 million by 2025. The Supreme Court’s ruling could set a precedent for how future administrations handle TPS designations, particularly in cases where political considerations intersect with humanitarian concerns.

For now, Salvadorans and other TPS holders are watching closely, aware that the outcome could determine whether they remain in the country they call home or face the prospect of deportation to nations still grappling with violence, poverty, and instability. As the legal battle unfolds, many are preparing for all possible outcomes—including the possibility of returning to a country they barely remember.

This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press.