A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan and Haitian migrants is unlawful. The decision preserves the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for more than one million people who would otherwise face deportation.
Judge Edward Chen issued the ruling after reviewing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) move to strip migrants of their TPS protections. The program, created by Congress in 1990, provides temporary legal status to people from countries facing war, political unrest, or natural disasters. Judge Chen noted that the administration’s actions were not only unprecedented in speed but also violated federal law. He emphasized that conditions in Venezuela and Haiti remain so dangerous that even the State Department warns against travel.
The decision directly impacts approximately 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians who are allowed to continue living and working legally in the United States. However, DHS has already signaled its intent to appeal, arguing that the TPS program has been “abused” and used as a form of de facto amnesty.
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The ruling represents a setback for President Trump, who has pursued aggressive immigration policies since returning to office. Earlier this year, his administration announced plans to revoke TPS for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, instructing them to leave the country before their permits expired in April. The move was part of a broader campaign promise to tighten immigration enforcement.
Migrant advocates quickly challenged the policy in court, with the National TPS Alliance and Venezuelan TPS holders arguing that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem did not have the authority to roll back extensions granted by previous administrations. Judge Chen’s ruling supports that claim, making clear that the administration’s legal reasoning was flawed.
The decision also highlights the tension between the executive branch and the judiciary over immigration policy. While the Supreme Court previously allowed the administration to move forward with ending TPS on a temporary basis, Judge Chen clarified that the ruling only applied to preliminary relief, not a final judgment. This distinction opened the door for Friday’s decision.
The ruling underscores the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding immigration in the United States. For now, Venezuelan and Haitian migrants remain shielded under TPS, but with the administration determined to appeal, the future of the program remains uncertain.