Woodson Simon, who runs the Triad Haitian Community Association in High Point, said many families are worried about what comes next.
"They don't know what's coming for them. They don't know what they're going to do," Simon said.
TPS allows people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States. However, in June, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end legal protections exposing hundreds of thousands more people to potential deportation.
The ruling affects roughly 350,000 Haitians and about 6,000 Syrians who have been protected under the program.
Simon said some Haitians in North Carolina have already begun feeling the effects.
"ICE is around. People are very fearful of that situation," he said.
According to Simon, some TPS holders have lost their jobs and are now relying on friends and relatives for support.
"Living with some friends who can help them for now. We know more and more are coming," he said.
The uncertainty comes as the U.S. State Department maintains a "Do Not Travel" advisory for both Haiti and Syria, citing ongoing safety concerns.
Immigration attorney Hugh Hudson of Hudson Law Group said many of his Haitian clients have spent decades building lives in the United States.
"My clients themselves have been living here for 18 years. They don't have a home to go back to," Hudson said.
Hudson said immigrants who lose TPS protections could face removal proceedings if no other legal pathway is available.
"Once the deportation process has been initiated, you have to convince an immigration judge why you should remain in the U.S.," he said.
He is urging anyone affected by the ruling to consult an immigration attorney immediately to explore possible options.
"If you have a U.S. child 21 years or older, that child is able to petition for you, so long as certain requirements are met and you're able to remain and obtain legal status in the U.S.," Hudson said.
Hudson also warned that large-scale deportations could have economic consequences across North Carolina.
"A lot of my clients work in plants. They work at the warehouses. They're farmers, really doing heavy lifting in this economy," Hudson said. "It's a devastation to them, but all of us."
Community leaders and immigration advocates say many families are now waiting for guidance while weighing their legal options and preparing for an uncertain future.
For readers seeking information or assistance, the Triad Haitian Community Association can be reached at thca@triadhc.org.
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