AMHRI Monitors Federal Court Hearing in New York on the Termination of TPS for YEMEN
New York, United States
April 16, 2026
The Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration (AMHRI) monitored today the proceedings of the first hearing before the federal court in Manhattan concerning the decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Yemenis in the United States, as part of its ongoing efforts to defend the rights of migrant communities.
The Association was represented at the hearing by Mr. Waleed Al-Najjar, Executive Director of AMHRI; Mr. Raafat Alameri, Head of Community Affairs; and AMHRI’s legal counsel, attorney Mohammed Al-Sawaeer.
Hearing Proceedings and Judicial Developments
According to the proceedings and the court order issued, U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho heard arguments from the parties regarding the plaintiffs’ motions to postpone the termination of TPS for Yemen and decided to take these motions under advisement pending a forthcoming ruling.
In significant procedural developments reflected in the court order issued today, the Court ruled as follows:
• Plaintiffs are required to submit a legal brief, not exceeding five (5) pages, supporting their motions to compel disclosure of unredacted documents, by 11:59 p.m. today.
• The U.S. Government is required to submit unredacted versions of the documents to the Court for in camera review by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026.
• The Government is required to file a consolidated legal response, not exceeding eight (8) pages, in both cases by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026.
• The Court granted the plaintiffs’ request to proceed under pseudonyms to protect their identities, reflecting the sensitivity and seriousness of the case.
• The Court also approved the plaintiffs’ request to exceed the page limit for their reply brief.
The documents sought for full unredacted disclosure include: the Decision Memorandum submitted to the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS-AR-000001 to DHS-AR-000019), an email communication (DHS-AR-000266 to DHS-AR-000267), and a report from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (DHS-AR-000243 to DHS-AR-000245).
(Based on the official court order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 16, 2026, in Cases No. (1: 26-CV-2280)
Positive Indicators
AMHRI considers these developments to be an important positive indicator of the seriousness of the U.S. judiciary in reviewing administrative decisions that impact human rights, particularly those affecting the lives of thousands of Yemenis residing in the United States.
The Court’s requirement that the Government disclose full unredacted documents for confidential judicial review demonstrates its commitment to thoroughly examining the legal basis of the decision before ruling on the motions, thereby increasing the likelihood that the termination decision may be suspended if the legal justifications prove insufficient.
Role of AMHRI and Its Partners
The Association reaffirms that it has been actively advocating on this issue since June of last year through its legal counsel, attorney Mohammed Al-Sawaeer, in coordination with several U.S.-based human rights organizations, led by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), represented by attorney Ibrahim Al-Qahtabi.
These efforts are part of AMHRI’s broader mission to advocate for the rights of migrants and to defend vulnerable populations affected by armed conflict and humanitarian crises, particularly Yemeni communities.
Call to Decision-Makers
In conclusion, AMHRI renews its call to U.S. government authorities, policymakers, and international human rights organizations to fully consider the humanitarian and legal dimensions of the Yemeni case, and to ensure the continuation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until sustainable peace is achieved in Yemen and security conditions have genuinely improved.
Together for Justice and Human Dignity
Issued by the Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration (AMHRI)
