The Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments Wednesday on whether the administration of Donald Trump unlawfully moved to revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Haiti and Syria.

The cases could determine the fate of roughly 350,000 Haitians and about 6,000 Syrians who have been living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that shields individuals from deportation and allows them to work legally.

The administration argues that TPS was always intended as a temporary measure and that ending the protections is necessary for national security and public safety. Opponents contend the decision was made without adequate consideration of humanitarian risks and may have been influenced by discriminatory intent.

TPS, established under the Immigration and Nationality Act, is granted to nationals of countries deemed unsafe due to war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. The protections for Haiti and Syria were first introduced more than a decade ago and have been repeatedly extended, including under the administration of Joe Biden.

Conditions in both countries remain severe. Haiti continues to face instability following a devastating 2010 earthquake, compounded by political turmoil and escalating gang violence. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011 and continues to struggle with humanitarian crises, worsened by a major earthquake in 2023.

Advocates warn that deporting TPS holders could expose them to dangerous conditions and disrupt U.S. communities and industries that rely on their labor. The court’s decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for immigration policy and humanitarian protections.