Immigration attorney: Haitian TPS preserved for now; limited pathways and rights if ICE appears

Daniel Drucker, an immigration attorney in Queens, told BronxNet viewers that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians remains in effect for current beneficiaries after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit preserved a lower‑court stay. "TPS is currently still… people that have TPS are currently allowed to keep their TPS until further notice," Drucker said.

Drucker explained that while some Haitians obtained TPS and work authorization in prior years, the administration previously sought to terminate TPS for Haitians; he characterized that termination effort as lacking a sufficient basis. He told the host, David Lesh, that new TPS applications are not available at present: "If I came in, yes, tomorrow and you said, hey, I want TPS, you can't get it."

For immigrants who entered without inspection, Drucker described a narrow set of options. He cited "parole in place" for relatives who have a child in the U.S. armed forces or National Guard and the I‑601A provisional unlawful presence waiver for applicants with qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent‑resident spouses or parents. "They could apply for it's called an I‑130 position and then a waiver… they could get the case approved before they go back to their home country and pick up their green card," he said. Drucker emphasized these options are limited and often require qualifying relatives.

On enforcement and rights, Drucker told viewers that ICE generally needs a warrant to enter a home and must have cause to detain an individual. He said detainees may be transferred far from New York — giving one example of a client moved from 26 Federal Plaza to a facility in south Georgia — and recommended families use the ICE inmate‑locator tool by searching the detainee's alien registration number or name. "You could just type Google, ICE inmate locator… and it'll tell you," he said.

Drucker also reported seeing ICE operations upstate near the Canadian border and said agents sometimes use drones to monitor remote crossings. He urged people with hearings to appear and to consult attorneys rather than miss court dates.

Why it matters: Drucker framed these issues as immediate concerns for Bronx viewers with family members in removal proceedings or people relying on TPS. He gave his website (druckerlaw.net) and phone number for consultations.

The segment ended with Drucker expressing hope for comprehensive immigration reform that would create a pathway to citizenship for long‑term residents who pay taxes and have U.S.‑born children.