MIAMI (WSVN) – Residents and community leaders gathered hand-in-hand in Miami to share a prayer after a judge decided to block the Trump administration’s efforts to lift Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.
After state leaders responded earlier in the day to Judge Ana C. Reyes’ Monday ruling, residents and local officials gathered in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood to stand in solidarity with ongoing efforts to protect Haitians’ TPS status.
“Continue to bless our Haitian brothers and sisters who are terrified of being sent to a country in turmoil,” said Miami Commissioner Christine King.
The prayer vigil served as a show of community support for those concerned about their future in the United States, after the Trump administration said it planned to appeal Reyes’ ruling to temporarily block the move to end TPS for Haitians.
“We can take a breath, but we have to keep fighting,” King said.
This designation allows approximately 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the US. It was originally scheduled to expire on Tuesday until Reyes’ ruling.
In her ruling Monday, Reyes granted a reprieve to prevent the termination of TPS for Haitians while a lawsuit is pending.
“During the stay, the termination is null and void and has no legal effect.”
At the vigil Tuesday night, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said it is not safe for Haitians to return home and called on Florida’s congressional delegation to take action.
“We see the conditions. They are devastatingly dangerous. There is no economy, there is no safety, there is no health care system, no education system, no safe travel,” Levine Cava said.
Earlier in the day, Farah Lariux, a TPS recipient since 2010, was joined by officials in North Miami to share the emotions she felt after hearing about Reyes’ ruling.
“[I] woke up with a sense of revival after enduring weeks of extreme anxiety, fear and uncertainty,” said Lariux.
Lariux is one of approximately 158,000 Haitians living in Florida thanks to the program.
TPS was first awarded to Haitians in 2010, after a devastating earthquake caused widespread damage across the country. The protection has been extended several times.
The Trump administration has tried on several occasions to end the designation for Haitians, arguing that the program was never intended to be used indefinitely.
“It was always intended to be temporary,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Last weekend, Noem visited Miami International Airport for a press conference, saying Haitians have other options available to them besides TPS.
“Anyone who comes from a country where the TPS is expiring has the opportunity to appeal that and see if there is another program for which he or she is eligible,” Noem said.
During Tuesday night’s vigil, Levine Cava responded to Noem’s comments.
“There are very few options for the majority of these people and this is not a time when the federal government wants to help people,” said Levine Cava.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal Reyes’ decision, with Department of Homeland Security officials indicating the case will ultimately be argued before the Supreme Court.
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
#Residents #community #leaders #gather #prayer #vigil #Miami #support #TPS #Haitians #judges #ruling #WSVN #7News #Miami #News #Weather #Sports #Fort #Lauderdale