Federal Appeals Court Upholds Protections for Venezuelans Amid Trump Administration's Challenge
A federal appeals court has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans, citing lack of authority.
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Overview
- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling against the Trump administration's attempt to terminate TPS for Venezuelans.
- U.S. District Judge Edward Chen found that the Homeland Security Secretary lacked the authority to end protections for 600,000 individuals.
- Temporary Protected Status, established in 1990, provides legal status to individuals fleeing civil strife or extraordinary conditions in their home countries.
- The ruling leaves uncertainty for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans whose TPS protections expired in April, as their status remains unresolved.
- The decision reflects ongoing legal battles over immigration policies and the authority of the Trump administration in this context.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the legal victory for Venezuelans and the human impact of the Trump administration's policies. They highlight the court's rationale for upholding protections and feature personal stories of those affected, while presenting the administration's counter-arguments more briefly or through strong, critical quotes.
"The appellate judges said the guaranteed time limitations were critical so people could gain employment, find long-term housing and build stability without fear of shifting political winds."
Associated Press"A federal appeals court on Friday blocked the Trump administration’s plans to end protections for 600,000 people from Venezuela who have had permission to live and work in the United States."
Associated PressArticles (6)
FAQ
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status established by the Immigration Act of 1990, granted to nationals of countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary temporary conditions. It provides protection from deportation and work authorization for eligible individuals in the U.S. TPS was designated for Venezuelans due to the severe humanitarian emergency caused by political and economic crises under the Maduro regime, leading to high levels of violence and lack of access to essential services.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that found the Homeland Security Secretary lacked the authority to terminate TPS protections for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans. This ruling blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end TPS, citing lack of lawful authority to invalidate existing protections.
TPS protections for about 350,000 Venezuelans expired in April 2025, creating uncertainty around their legal status. Although the Trump administration attempted to terminate TPS, courts have issued injunctions preserving certain TPS-related documents and work authorizations while legal challenges continue. The Department of Homeland Security extended TPS for Venezuelans through October 2, 2026, for those eligible individuals who arrived on or before July 31, 2023, but this extension has faced legal challenges.
On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order that protected around 350,000 Venezuelan TPS holders from deportation while the case proceeds, but allowed TPS holders who applied for an extension through October 2, 2026, to maintain their protections. This maintains partial protections for certain Venezuelans but leaves ongoing litigation and uncertainty about the final outcome.
The Department of Homeland Security reviews extraordinary and temporary conditions in the designated country and consults interagency partners. DHS must decide at least 60 days before TPS expiration whether the conditions warrant extension or termination. For Venezuela, DHS determined ongoing humanitarian crises justified extending TPS for 18 months through October 2, 2026.
History
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