Haitians living in New Jersey are feeling relieved after a federal judge in the District of Columbia preserved their immigration status, which will keep thousands from being deported.

A judge is now reviewing the request to terminate the Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, which was set to run out Tuesday night. Commonly called TPS, 350,000 Haitians around the U.S. are covered by it.

TPS is used for those fleeing their own country out of fear for their safety. However, the Department of Homeland Security wants to terminate TPS for Haitians.

Without TPS, many fear they’ll be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

News 12 spoke to a Haitian man who works at the Reformed Church of Highland Park. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of becoming a target.

He explained that the main airport in Haiti is closed, there is civil unrest and violent gangs rule the capital city of Port-Au-Prince.

He argued that Haitians have greatly helped the economy in the United States.

“We know that we are making a difference here. We support ourselves. We are supporting the economy,” he says.

He says many Haitians who are here work in health care as nurses, doctors and health care aides.

“What are you going to do with all of those patients in nursing homes, all those patients benefiting from our services?” he asks.

Homeland Security has told Haitians protected by TPS to self-deport.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, “TPS was never intended to be a de facto asylum program, yet that’s how previous administrations have used it for decades."

Federal Judge Ana Reyes is now reviewing the case and will decide if those protections will stay in place permanently.