Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Statement on Appeals Court Decision Protecting TPS Holders

Today’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is more than a legal decision—it is a moral vindication for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, friends, and fellow Americans in all but paperwork. I stand with the families protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and I celebrate this moment with them.

For years, these communities—mothers, fathers, students, nurses, faith leaders—have lived under a cloud of fear and uncertainty, targeted not just by policy, but by deeply hurtful rhetoric. President Trump once called countries like Haiti and nations in Africa “shithole countries”—a phrase not only vile, but steeped in ignorance and racism. Too many in the right-wing media and political class have echoed and amplified those sentiments, portraying TPS recipients as burdens, criminals, or outsiders who don’t belong. That is a lie.

TPS holders are not faceless statistics. They are the home health aide caring for your aging parent. They are the teacher guiding your child through their first language. They are the worker harvesting your food, the technician repairing your streets, the entrepreneur revitalizing your local economy. Many have lived here for decades. They have children who are U.S. citizens. They pay taxes. They contribute. They believe in the American dream, even when America has not always believed in them.

To revoke their legal status would not only have been cruel—it would have been catastrophic for our economy and unjust by every moral measure. The conditions in Haiti are nothing short of catastrophic. Entire communities are trapped by gang violence, unable to access food, clean water, or medical care. Mothers are forced to choose which child eats. Hospitals have shut down or been overrun, and schools lie in ruins. Kidnappings, rape, and extortion are rampant. The streets are ruled not by law but by fear. For many, there is no shelter, no security, and no hope on the horizon. What’s happening in Haiti would spark global outrage if it were occurring in any Western nation—but here, the world turns its eyes away. The courts have rightly rejected an attempt to turn back the clock on compassion and legality.

But let us be clear: the damage of the past administration’s words and actions still lingers. No one who has lived in the shadow of deportation after building a life here forgets how fragile dignity can feel in the face of hate. This ruling is a step toward healing, but we must do more.

We need permanent protections. We need immigration reform that centers humanity, justice, and economic reality—not political scapegoating. And we must call out racist language and policies for what they are: attacks on the soul of our nation.

To the families affected by TPS: I see you. I stand with you. And I will fight with you until your place in this country is not just tolerated, but recognized and protected under the law.

Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL 01)
Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Member of the Congressional Black Caucus