Judge Reads Death Threats After Her Haiti TPS Ruling

"I hope you die today," one email said. "Enjoy choking on your tongue." A federal judge used part of a contentious court hearing Thursday to read that and other email and social media death threats she received after her ruling blocking the Trump administration from ending temporary immigration protections for Haitians living in the US. US District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington declined Thursday to put that decision on hold, the AP reports. But before adjourning, she took the unusual step of addressing some of the profane criticism and threats it engendered. Reyes also defending the work of her colleagues, who she said regularly receive such messages these days.

"We will continue to do our jobs as best as we know how," she said. "We will not be intimidated." Reyes, a Biden appointee, said she was hesitant to share the threats she received following her Feb. 2 ruling and consulted colleagues beforehand. She read directly from another email that suggested she "eat a bullet." The judge told the courtroom she doesn't object to criticism, per the Miami Herald. "To those who disagree with me, I say 'Thank you,'" she said. "Judges should be questioned, the politicians should be questioned."

• Ohio threats: Days after the ruling, bomb threats and suspicious packages shut down multiple offices and schools in Ohio on Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine said. The threats referred to Springfield's Haitian community, he said. "The whole essence of the threats were Haitians should be out, get rid of the Haitians," DeWine said at a news conference. Suspicious packages were placed outside building downtown, per WCPO. "This is a despicable act," DeWine said. "It's caused kids to miss a whole day at school today." President Trump threatened a mass deportation of Haitians from Springfield in his 2024 campaign, and he and JD Vance claimed Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets there.