Judge blocks Trump’s attempt to revoke TPS protected status for some Venezuelans

San Francisco, California, USA (AP) – Approximately 5,000 Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) can stay and work in the United States despite a Supreme Court decision that ended the protections while their challenge against President Donald Trump’s administration is ongoing. Federal Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco ruled on Friday that Venezuelans with TPS extended until October 2026 are exempt from the Supreme Court’s order and cannot be deported. Last month, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to terminate TPS for around 350,000 Venezuelans set to expire in April. The Court lifted Chen’s order that had stopped the administration from ending the protections granted during President Joe Biden’s term. The judges did not provide a reason for their decision typical in emergency appeals but noted that some applicants had received work permits and other documents valid until October 2, 2026. Chen mentioned during the hearing on Friday that they could have excluded this group of people but chose not to do so. The court is still reviewing the lawsuit challenging the legality of the revocations by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. TPS allows individuals already in the US to legally reside as their home countries are deemed unsafe to return due to natural disasters or conflicts. During his election campaign, President Trump vowed to deport millions of people and, in office, has worked to dismantle Biden administration policies expanding pathways for migrants to obtain residency in the US.