Chicago immigration advocates condemned a recent Supreme Court ruling that removed temporary legal protections for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, warning of severe repercussions for the city’s immigrant communities.

Loss of Temporary Protected Status

The ruling will strip more than 350,000 immigrants of their Temporary Protected Status, a designation created in 1990 by Congress to assist refugees fleeing humanitarian catastrophes in their home nations. This status can often last years, however, for nations with persisting crises.

The decision will impact hundreds of Haitian and Syrian families across Chicago, who will lose their protected status, according to advocates. Syria and Haiti are the latest countries to lose their protective designations during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Impact on Immigrant Communities

Recipients will lose their work authorizations once their temporary status lapses, but can still do contracted work or run their own businesses, said Fred Tsao, the lead policy counsel for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Tsao argued that the decision was rooted in racism, referencing Trump’s past comments on Haitian immigrants.

Many Syrian families who hold Temporary Protected Status came to the United States fleeing a war that for many is still not safe to return to, said Ali Tarokh, representing the Syrian Community Network. They have become our neighbors, co-workers, and friends, and have contributed to communities by opening small businesses, working in healthcare and education, and raising their children in American schools.

Kathleen Arnold, the director of Depaul University’s Refugee and Forced Migration Studies program, called on Congress to reverse the consequences of the Supreme Court decision and create a straightforward pathway to citizenship for those protected under the law.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.