Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said immigrants living in the United States with temporary protected status should apply for permanent residency or return to their home countries following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could lead to significant changes in immigration protections.Mullin told CNN’s State of the Union address that those affected should either adjust their status or prepare to leave, adding that the government could assist in arranging departures.“Either try to fill out the paperwork and stay here in a permanent capacity, or we will help you return to your country,” Mullin said.“We will actually give you a plane ticket, plus about $2,100 to help you relocate once you get to your destination, but according to the court and its name itself, Temporary Protected Status is not a permanent status,” he added.His comments came after a split U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for the Trump administration to roll back humanitarian protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The ruling affects people who are allowed to stay in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program for people fleeing conflict, natural disasters and other crises.Federal law allows the government to grant TPS to people who are unable to safely return to their home countries due to war, disaster, or similar circumstances. This status is typically renewed for many years at a time, allowing the beneficiary to live and work legally in the United States.TPS was first awarded to Haitians in 2010 after a devastating earthquake and to Syrians in 2012 after the outbreak of civil war. However, the State Department still advises against travel to both countries, citing ongoing violence, crime, terrorism and kidnappings.The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling could affect about 350,000 Haitians and about 6,000 Syrians who could be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or deported when their protections expire. The court’s conservative majority ruled that challengers were unlikely to prove the government’s actions were racially motivated.The decision sparked political debate across the United States. Some Republican leaders criticized the move. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the situation in Haiti remains unsafe and warned that laying off long-term workers would have an impact on the economy, particularly in health care.“A lot of times, it’s Haitians who are caring for a mom or a dad who has Alzheimer’s, taking care of a family member who may be in a nursing home,” DeWine said. “It’s not in our own interest to say we’re going to take all of this away.”Immigration advocates and affected communities have also raised concerns, warning that ending TPS could disrupt families who have lived and worked in the United States for decades. In Springfield, Ohio, Haitian residents expressed uncertainty and concern about what the ruling might mean for their future, while some local officials and Republican lawmakers also called for expanded protections.The TPS program currently covers approximately 1.7 million people from 17 countries.
