A US federal appeals court has blocked former President Donald Trump’s attempt to end temporary protections for Venezuelans living in the United States, safeguarding the legal status of around 600,000 people.
The three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld an earlier ruling that maintained Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans. The judges concluded that plaintiffs were likely to succeed in proving that the administration had acted unlawfully when it tried to terminate the program.
The court found that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary had no authority to cancel a prior extension of TPS, as the law passed by Congress does not allow such unilateral reversals. The ruling emphasized that the TPS program was designed to provide stability and protection from shifting political agendas, allowing recipients to work and build their lives in the US.
The case carries major implications for Venezuelan migrants who rely on TPS for legal residence and employment. While some individuals have already lost status due to earlier policy changes, the ruling may pave the way to reverse the administration’s decision and restore protections for thousands.
