The United States Supreme Court’s Thursday ruling allows President Donald Trump’s administration to end temporary legal protections for Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

The decision exposes Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from Haiti and Syria to potential detention and deportation and applies to about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. County records show thousands of Haitians live in San Diego County.

The government argued that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not judges, had sole authority to end protections. SCOTUS’ 6-3 conservative majority agreed, paving the way to end protections for Haitians and Syrians.

“We could see, as soon as next week, people in San Diego and around the Country, being taken by ICE,” Guerline Jozef, the co-founder and executive director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, said.

She told CBS 8 that most of the Haitians living in San Diego have TPS. Many may have to choose between voluntarily returning to their home country or facing deportation proceedings.

“Specifically in San Diego, we are starting to look into what are the options they will have. We have to go on a case-by-case study to see what else is available for them. But, at the same time, we are literally right now working with the Senate to make sure we pass a bill, Senate Bill 4814, that will provide protection for three years for Haitian TPS holders in San Diego or around the country,” Jozef said.

The Secretary of Homeland Security previously determined that Haiti no longer met the emergency country conditions required to qualify for TPS, allowing the Trump Administration to initiate the termination process. The court rejected arguments that the administration’s move to end TPS was motivated by racial animus, ruling instead that the government has the discretion to stop the program when it decides a country no longer needs it.

“It is not new. The Haitian community has always been at the receiving end of the vile, of the inhumane, of the cruel narrative and action of the current president,” Jozef said.

With its decision, SCOTUS is sending the case back to the lower courts to implement the ruling, and that is not expected to be before July 27.

To learn about resources with Haitian Bridge Alliance, contact: info@haitianbridge.com.