Disney places Venezuelan employees on unpaid leave amid Supreme Court’s protected-status ruling

The Walt Disney Company has placed numerous Venezuelan employees in Florida on unpaid leave due to the potential loss of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as early as next month, as per reports. Bloomberg stated that Disney informed the workers on Tuesday that their employment would be terminated next month following a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to revoke protections for around 350,000 Venezuelans in the US. The employees were informed that they would be on unpaid leave for 30 days starting May 20. If they cannot provide new work authorization within this period, they will be dismissed, according to Disney. A Disney spokesperson mentioned that approximately 45 employees were put on leave and assured that they would receive benefits during this time to comply with the law and ensure their well-being amid changing immigration policies. This action follows the Supreme Court’s decision to lift an injunction blocking President Trump’s move to end legal status for thousands of migrants in the US. The decision paves the way for the administration to terminate TPS protections for Venezuelan migrants and proceed with their immediate removal. The Biden administration had extended these protections, but they were later terminated by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. US District Judge Edward Chen had previously ruled in favor of maintaining these protections, finding the program’s abrupt termination unprecedented and possibly based on negative stereotypes about Venezuelan migrants. TPS, established in the 1990s, offers work permits and deportation protection to nationals from countries deemed unsafe to return to. The Trump and Biden administrations have had differing approaches to TPS for Venezuelans, with Trump imposing sanctions but resisting TPS designation, while Biden granted temporary status to those fleeing the economic crisis.