The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case likely to affect immigration protections for thousands of Haitians living in Ohio.

The case stems from the Trump administration's move to end Temporary Protected Status for Syrian and Haitian immigrants. The federal program allows people fleeing violence or disasters in their home country to live and work in the United States for a certain amount of time if it's unsafe to return.

Attorney Geoff Pipoly represents plaintiffs challenging the TPS termination for Haitians. During his arguments before the justices, he asserted the Trump administration made the decision out of hostility toward non-white immigrants and a dislike of this specific population.

"The decision to terminate TPS for Haiti was a preordained result," he said, "meaning that it was decided before the required process could even take place."

A lower court recently sided with the plaintiffs. The administration suggests that conditions in Haiti have improved, and during the legal fight, it argued the courts lack the authority to question how the decision was made.

Roughly 10,000 Haitians under TPS status currently live in Ohio. Advocates warn a ruling siding with the government exposes them to deportation, with ripple effects for many other TPS populations.

Pastor Carl Ruby leads a faith-based coalition in Springfield advocating for Haitian immigrants. If the Supreme Court ends TPS for this population, he said he agrees with the prediction that a local economic and humanitarian crisis will unfold.

"That is 10,000 people all of a sudden not being allowed to work and lacking food, lacking the ability to pay rent," he said.

A decision by the nation's high court is expected by mid-summer. Last fall, the court's conservative majority allowed the Trump administration to end TPS for Venezuelans.

This story was produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation

Source: Public News Service