Supreme Court to hear case on legal protections for Haitians, Syrians

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(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide whether Haitian and Syrian immigrants can stay in the United States. 

Justices on the court agreed to hear two cases from the Trump administration challenging temporary protected status, a special immigration status granted to individuals who are fleeing war or environmental disasters in their home countries. 

The Supreme Court already upheld the Trump administration's decision to remove temporary protected status from more than 300,000 Venezuelan nationals in the United States.

The justices will look at Noem v. Doe and Trump v. Miot to determine the status of Syrian and Haitian immigrants in the United States. The case could also determine how far temporary protected status extends for migrants in other countries. 

Lawyers in the case regaring Syrian refugees pointed to heightened concerns over U.S. strikes in Iran affecting the region. According to court documents, 6,100 Syrian nationals hold TPS in the United States. 

The Trump administration said the United States' ability to screen Haitians admitted to the country under temporary protected status was "extremely limited."

"Terminating Haitian's TPS designation 'reflects a necessary and strategic vote of confidence in the new chapter Haiti is turning," lawyers for the Trump adminstration said. 

Lawyers for the Haitian immigrants pointed to the State Department's fuidance against traveling to Haiti as an explanation for keeping TPS. 

"Without a functioning government, Haiti is a nation in turmoil," lawyers wrote. "Rape, kidnapping, and murder are rampant, while food, housing, and medical care are scarce."

Justices on the Supreme Court are expected to hear both cases either in late April or May. With the court's term coming to a close in the summer, a decision will be issued by July. The case marks an extraordinary turnaround time for the justices in what will likely be a significant decision.