Judge Halts Revocation of Legal Documents for Venezuelan Immigrants
A U.S. federal judge has intervened to prevent the Trump administration from invalidating work permits and other legal documents for approximately 5,000 Venezuelans. These documents provided lawful status under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which benefits nearly 350,000 Venezuelans living in the United States.
Legal Challenge Overview
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of San Francisco ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem likely exceeded her authority in February when she moved to invalidate these legal documents and terminated the broader TPS designation for Venezuelans. The TPS program offers protection for individuals whose countries are undergoing extreme hardships such as natural disasters or armed conflicts.
Judge Chen's decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted an earlier injunction preventing the administration from ending TPS protections for Venezuelans on May 19. However, the Supreme Court noted that Venezuelans could still challenge the invalidation of their work and residency documents issued under TPS.
Background on TPS Extension and Revocation
The Department of Homeland Security had extended TPS for Venezuelans for 18 months until October 2026 during the final days of the previous administration. Secretary Noem subsequently acted to reverse this extension, which prompted the legal challenge from Venezuelan immigrants and advocacy groups.
The plaintiffs, supported by the National TPS Alliance, argued that thousands could lose employment authorization or face deportation without recognition of their documents' validity. Judge Chen agreed, emphasizing that the governing statute does not empower the Secretary to unilaterally invalidate these documents.
Key Points from the Ruling
- The number of Venezuelans with these TPS-related documents is estimated at 5,000, a small fraction of the total 350,000 TPS holders.
- Judge Chen highlighted that the presence of these individuals poses no significant economic burden or national security threat.
- The ruling reinforces the legal protections for those maintaining TPS-related documentation and allows them to retain work authorization.
Related Immigration Cases
This ruling came shortly after the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end a separate immigration parole program that provided temporary relief to over 530,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua under a different Biden-era initiative.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued comments regarding Judge Chen's ruling.
Understanding Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
TPS is a humanitarian program that:
- Grants temporary legal protection to individuals from countries experiencing severe crises.
- Allows eligible individuals to live and work legally in the U.S. during the designation period.
- Can be extended or terminated based on changing conditions in the designated countries.
Invalidating TPS documents could have widespread implications for immigrants relying on this status to maintain employment and avoid deportation.
