SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, just days before their status was set to expire.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco brings relief to approximately 350,000 Venezuelans whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was scheduled to end on April 7, following a decision by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reverse protections initially established by the previous administration.
Chen asserted that the government’s actions jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of countless individuals, warning it could lead to significant economic repercussions and negatively impact public health and safety across the United States. He noted that the administration did not demonstrate any substantial harm in maintaining TPS for Venezuelan beneficiaries, and raised concerns that Noem’s actions might be legally questionable and potentially driven by discriminatory motives.
Appointed by former President Barack Obama, Chen indicated that his order, stemming from a lawsuit by the National TPS Alliance, would apply nationally. Previously, Noem had also announced the termination of TPS for an additional 250,000 Venezuelans in September.
The judge allowed the government one week to notify him of any intention to appeal and provided plaintiffs one week to seek similar protections for another 500,000 Haitians whose TPS is set to expire in August. The previous administration had extended protections for all three groups into 2026.
Community leaders expressed optimism following the ruling. “Today is a good day for the migrant community in this country,” remarked Pablo Alvarado, the co-executive director of an organizing network. He emphasized the ongoing struggle for TPS holders and vowed to advocate for their rights.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to inquiries about the ruling.
TPS, enacted by Congress in 1990, protects individuals from deportation when their home countries are experiencing crises, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. for limited periods as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The recent changes mark a stark departure from immigration policies under the Biden administration and reflect growing tensions surrounding judicial decisions impacting immigration issues. The Trump administration has faced criticism for its stance on TPS and its broader immigration policies.
Federal officials recently indicated they plan to revoke protections for over 530,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who have legally entered the U.S. since October 2022 through a program known as humanitarian parole.
