More updates this week as President Trump continues to cut legal immigration pathways and additional lawsuits are brought against his administration. Here is the latest:
1. ICE Entering Certain Sensitive Spaces — Temporarily Blocked
A federal judge has issued a temporary block restricting ICE agents from entering certain places of worship.
The lawsuit, brought by a coalition of religious organizations, argues that permitting ICE enforcement actions in these locations infringes upon the First Amendment and threatens the free exercise of religion under federal law.
As a result of this ruling, approximately 1,700 places of worship across 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are currently considered off-limits to ICE enforcement actions while litigation proceeds.
We will continue monitoring whether this temporary block becomes a longer-term injunction.
2. Haitian TPS Under Fire by the Trump Administration
In January, President Trump began revoking temporary legal immigration programs, starting with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans.
On February 20, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem vacated the 18-month extension and redesignation of TPS for Haitians, with deportations expected to begin in August. This decision will affect more than 500,000 Haitian nationals, some of whom have had TPS protections in place since 2010 under the Obama administration.
Secretary Noem will next determine whether additional protections for Haitians will also be revoked.
As a reminder, TPS allows foreign nationals from designated countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to temporarily live and work in the United States while unsafe conditions persist in their home country.
Immigration advocates have already filed legal challenges seeking to block the elimination of TPS for Haitians and are requesting an injunction from the courts.
When TPS for Venezuelans was revoked, economists predicted significant economic repercussions for the United States. Those concerns may be further compounded by the termination of TPS for Haitians, as more than one million migrants combined could lose authorization to work in the United States.
3. ICE Acting Director Reassigned
Caleb Vitello, the Acting Director of ICE, has been reassigned by the White House in what appears to be an effort to increase deportation numbers. President Trump has stated that Vitello will now oversee “all field and enforcement operations.”
No official replacement has been announced at this time, though it is expected that Madison D. Sheahan, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, may be named Deputy Director of ICE.
Immigration enforcement and deportation remain central pillars of the Trump administration. However, the scale of mass deportations envisioned by the President would require substantial congressional funding, which has not yet been secured.
ICE currently lacks sufficient manpower and resources to meet the administration’s stated goals. Despite these limitations, the President continues to call for increased deportations, stating that ICE must “do better.”
As always, I will continue monitoring these developments and provide updates as more information becomes available. To read more about what I’ve written about today and more, you can subscribe to my bi-weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Immigration Watch.
Rebecca R. Cohen
Rebecca R. Cohen is a trusted immigration attorney who represents individuals, families, and employers in complex family- and employment-based immigration matters with a combination of strong advocacy and practical guidance. Known for her deep knowledge of visas, green cards, citizenship, and dual citizenship issues, she helps clients understand their options and develop effective strategies to achieve their goals. With a collaborative, solution-focused approach and certified mediation training, Rebecca provides clear communication, attentive support, and thoughtful preparation throughout the immigration process.
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