Judge Reads Death Threats During Hearing on Ending Haitian Protections

Federal judge refuses to pause ruling blocking Trump administration's effort to end temporary immigration protections for Haitians living in the U.S.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A federal judge in Washington, D.C. used part of a court hearing to read aloud email and social media death threats she received following her ruling that blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary immigration protections for Haitians living in the United States. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes refused to put her decision on hold, saying "We will continue to do our jobs as best as we know how. We will not be intimidated."

Why it matters

The case highlights the growing issue of judges facing threats and intimidation for their rulings, especially on politically charged topics like immigration. It also underscores the ongoing legal battle over the Trump administration's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from certain countries, which has significant implications for hundreds of thousands of people living and working in the U.S.

The details

In a ruling last week, Judge Reyes blocked the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians while a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's effort to end it proceeds. Her decision came one day before that designation for people from Haiti was set to expire. The Homeland Security secretary can grant TPS if conditions in home countries are deemed unsafe for return due to natural disasters, political instability or other dangers. Roughly 350,000 Haitians are legally living and working in the U.S. under the country's TPS designation.

  • On February 2, 2026, Judge Reyes issued a ruling blocking the termination of TPS for Haitians.
  • On February 12, 2026, Judge Reyes held a court hearing on the case.

The players

Judge Ana Reyes

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. who was nominated by President Joe Biden and is the first Hispanic woman and openly LGBTQ person to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who sought to strip Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations from several countries as part of his administration's mass deportation efforts.

Joe Biden

The current U.S. president who nominated Judge Reyes to the federal bench.

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What they’re saying

“We will continue to do our jobs as best as we know how. We will not be intimidated.”

— Judge Ana Reyes, U.S. District Judge

“People are entitled to their views. I have absolutely no problem with anyone disagreeing with me. But I do feel compelled to clarify a couple of misconceptions.”

— Judge Ana Reyes, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

The Biden administration has appealed Judge Reyes' decision blocking the termination of TPS for Haitians. The appeals court will now consider the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threats and intimidation faced by judges, especially on politically charged issues like immigration. It underscores the ongoing legal battles over the Trump administration's efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for immigrants, which has major implications for hundreds of thousands of people living and working in the U.S.