A San Francisco Judge has effectively halted Trump’s plan to strip protections from over half a million Venezuelan migrants, marking a significant blow to the administration’s deportation strategy. The ruling will temporarily preserve work permits and legal status for hundreds of thousands of individuals who faced an uncertain future.
At a glance:
• U.S. District Judge Edward Chen paused the Trump administration’s plan to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 530,000 Venezuelan migrants
• The ruling affects 350,000 individuals whose protections were set to expire on April 7, and another 250,000 facing September deadlines
• Judge Chen ruled the cancellation would cause “irreparable harm” and billions in economic disruption
• The judge criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s actions as “arbitrary” and potentially motivated by “unconstitutional animus”
• Stephen Miller, Trump’s Policy Chief, condemned the decision as “judicial tyranny”
Judge Blocks Trump Deportation Plan for Venezuelans
The Biden-era protections for Venezuelan migrants will remain in place after U.S. District Judge Edward Chen issued a nationwide injunction blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate their legal status. In his ruling, Judge Chen determined that ending TPS would “inflict irreparable harm on hundreds of thousands of persons whose lives, families, and livelihoods will be severely disrupted” and cost the United States billions in economic activity.
The Temporary Protected Status program, created in 1990, shields foreign nationals from deportation if their home countries are experiencing natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions. Judge Chen’s order prevents the deportation of approximately 350,000 Venezuelans whose protection was set to expire on April 7, along with an additional 250,000 facing termination in September.
The judge’s ruling specifically criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to end the protections, describing it as “unauthorized,” “arbitrary,” and potentially motivated by “unconstitutional animus.” The federal government now has one week to appeal the decision, which also opens the door for plaintiffs to file additional motions to protect 500,000 Haitians from similar TPS expirations.
Trump Administration Officials Condemn Ruling
Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, blasted the ruling as “judicial tyranny” in a stark rebuke of what conservatives view as judicial overreach.
Immigration law specialist John Miano also criticized the ruling, noting that “the judge is completely disregarding the law. This is a judge who wants to be President rather than judge.”
The Trump administration pointed to the strain on American resources caused by mass migration, including impacts on wages, housing costs, and public safety concerns. Critics of Biden’s policies have specifically highlighted cases involving members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, which has been linked to crimes across the United States since the expansion of TPS protections.
Economic and Humanitarian Considerations
Judge Chen’s ruling stressed the economic contributions of Venezuelan migrants, and cited their higher educational attainment and labor force participation rates compared to U.S. citizens. The court found that the government failed to demonstrate any significant harm would result from continuing TPS protections, while termination would disrupt communities and businesses employing these workers.
Advocates for the migrants celebrated the decision as a temporary victory in an ongoing battle over immigration policy. “Today is a good day for the migrant community in this country,” said Pablo Alvarado, representing TPS holders who brought the lawsuit against the administration.
