A U.S. federal judge has stopped the Trump administration’s plan to cancel legal protections for around 600,000 Venezuelan nationals currently living in the United States. These protections allow them to stay in the country and work legally under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
TPS is a U.S. immigration program that allows people to live and work in the U.S. if their home country is facing a crisis, such as war, natural disasters, or extreme political or humanitarian issues. While TPS is meant to be temporary, in many cases it gets extended for several years.
What Was the Trump Administration Planning?
The Trump administration wanted to:
- End TPS for 350,000 Venezuelans starting April 7, 2025
- Shorten the protection period for another 250,000 Venezuelans, who were supposed to be safe until October 2026
These changes would have made it possible to deport a large number of Venezuelans, many of whom have been living in the U.S. peacefully for years.
Judge Chen Blocks the Changes
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen ruled that the government cannot end TPS for Venezuelans at this time. He said the attempt was legally flawed and appeared to be based on racial bias.
Judge Chen, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized both President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He said their decision was based on negative stereotypes about Venezuelans.
“Acting on the basis of a negative group stereotype is the classic example of racism,” Judge Chen wrote.
Noem Tried to Reverse Previous TPS Protections
Before Secretary Noem took over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), her predecessor Alejandro Mayorkas had extended TPS for Venezuelans until October 2026 during the Biden administration.
Mayorkas based his decision on the serious humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, including political oppression and economic collapse. However, after President Trump returned to office in January 2025, Secretary Noem tried to cancel that extension and speed up deportations.
Trump Administration Cites Gangs, But Judge Disagrees
The administration claimed that TPS should be ended due to threats from Venezuelan gangs, especially the group called Tren de Aragua (TdA).
But Judge Chen said there was no evidence to support that claim.
“There is no proof that Venezuelan TPS holders are connected to any gangs,” he stated. In fact, he noted that TPS holders have lower crime rates than the general U.S. population.
National Security Claims Also Questioned
Judge Chen also questioned the administration’s claim that this move would help U.S. national security. He said it didn’t make sense for the government to justify this by trying to negotiate with Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, which might give legitimacy to his regime.
What Happens Now?
Thanks to Judge Chen’s ruling, Venezuelans with TPS can stay in the U.S. until October 2026, as originally planned. This gives them time to work, live safely, and contribute to society without fear of being deported.