Immigrants living in the US under Temporary Protected Status must either apply for permanent residence or return to their home countries, Homeland Security Secretary Markway Mullin has said, following a US Supreme Court ruling that could lead to major changes to immigration protections.Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Mullin said those affected should either regularize their status or prepare to leave, adding that the government could assist with departure arrangements.“Either try to complete the paperwork and stay here for permanent status or we will help you get back to your country,” Mullin said.He said, “We will actually give you a plane ticket, as well as about $2,100 to help you get reset when you get there, but temporary protective status, according to the courts and in its very name, is not permanent status.”His comments came after a split decision by the US Supreme Court that cleared the way for the Trump administration to revoke humanitarian protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants. The decision affects people who were granted permission to remain in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program designed for those fleeing conflict, natural disasters and other crises.Federal law allows the government to grant TPS to people who cannot safely return to their home country because of war, disaster, or similar situations. The status is often renewed for years, allowing recipients to live and work legally in the US.TPS was first provided to Haitians following the devastating 2010 earthquake and to Syrians following the outbreak of the civil war in 2012. However, the State Department still advises against travel to both countries, citing ongoing violence, crime, terrorism, and kidnappings.The U.S. Supreme Court decision could affect an estimated 350,000 Haitians and about 6,000 Syrians, potentially leading to detention or deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if their protections end. The court’s conservative majority ruled that the challengers were unlikely to prove that the administration’s actions were racially motivated.This decision has sparked political debate across America. Some Republican leaders have criticized this move. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said the situation in Haiti remains unsafe and warned of the economic impact of removing long-term workers, particularly in health care.“It’s Haitians who many times are taking care of your mother or your father who has Alzheimer’s, taking care of family members who may be in nursing homes,” DeWine said. “And to say we’re going to take them all out, it’s not in our own interests.”Immigration advocates and affected communities have also raised concerns, warning that ending TPS could disrupt families who have lived and worked in the US for decades. In Springfield, Ohio, Haitian residents described uncertainty and fear about what the decision might mean for their future, while some local officials and Republican lawmakers also called for increased security.The TPS program currently covers approximately 1.7 million people in 17 countries.