Federal Judge Halts Ending of TPS for Venezuelan Migrants by Trump Administration

A federal judge in California decided on Monday to temporarily block the plan by the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, which shields them from deportation.

This decision arose after a legal challenge, just days before migrants were to lose their work permits and deportation protections next week, on April 7.

U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen criticized the attempt to end TPS for Venezuelans, describing it as unprecedented. He expressed concerns about the lack of a phased transition period, suggesting that negative stereotypes about Venezuelans influenced the decision.

Judge Chen noted that the abrupt termination of TPS would cause severe personal and economic harm, affecting millions and straining public health and safety across U.S. communities.

The lawsuit argues that the termination was illegal, baseless, and driven by an unconstitutional bias. The court order has already been solicited for comments by CBS News from the Department of Homeland Security.

Migrants' advocates welcomed the court's decision, viewing it as a protective measure against what they considered the administration's harsh stance on deportations.

Established in 1990, TPS allows migrants from crisis-stricken countries to stay temporarily in the U.S. without necessarily getting a path to a permanent residency, though it does permit them to work and defer deportation.

During the Biden era, the TPS program expanded considerably, including the Venezuelan designation that benefits around 600,000 individuals.

Critics have long opposed TPS extensions, arguing it encourages undocumented immigration. After reviewing TPS, Noem moved to retract the 2023 designation, although conditions in Venezuela that warranted TPS persist.

The early 2021 TPS designation remains active, protecting Venezuelans until at least September under its guidelines.

Plans are also in place to halt TPS for many Haitian migrants. While advocates have requested judicial intervention, there has yet been no decision from Judge Chen.