A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary legal protections for more than 1 million Venezuelans and Haitians living in the United States. The ruling preserves their right to stay and work, challenging Homeland Security’s attempt to terminate protections granted under the Biden administration. The decision delivers a significant setback to efforts aimed at narrowing the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.
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Court Ruling in San Francisco
US district judge Edward Chen ruled Friday that Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem exceeded her authority when she attempted to reverse three TPS extensions for Venezuelans and Haitians. Chen called the move “arbitrary and capricious,” affirming that the administration had acted unlawfully. The ruling ensures that Venezuelans whose protections expired in April, or were set to expire on 10 September, maintain their legal status.
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DHS Actions Overturned
Soon after taking office, Kristi Noem moved to cancel three TPS extensions that had been approved by the Biden administration. She argued that conditions in both Venezuela and Haiti had improved enough to justify ending protections. However, the court found that her decision went beyond statutory authority, leaving DHS unable to enforce the terminations. The department has not yet issued a public response to the ruling.
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Appeals Court Intervention
Friday’s ruling followed an appellate court decision on 29 August that had already blocked Trump’s efforts to end protections for Venezuelans. The appeals panel determined that plaintiffs were likely to succeed in proving the administration’s actions were unlawful. That ruling built on Chen’s earlier March opinion, which similarly found the government had overstepped its authority in terminating TPS status.
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What TPS Provides
Temporary Protected Status allows foreign nationals to remain in the US if returning home would place them in danger due to natural disasters, political crises, or other emergencies. Designations typically last six, 12, or 18 months but can be extended if unsafe conditions persist. TPS shields recipients from deportation and provides work authorization, giving hundreds of thousands a level of stability amid turmoil at home.
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Venezuelan Humanitarian Crisis
Millions of Venezuelans have fled worsening political repression, rampant unemployment, and economic collapse. Years of hyperinflation and corruption have left the country in crisis, with shortages of food, medicine, and basic services. For many, TPS protections in the US have been a lifeline against returning to unlivable conditions.
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Haiti’s Ongoing Struggles
Haiti was first designated for TPS in 2010 following a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that left more than a million people homeless. Fifteen years later, Haitians continue to face widespread hunger, unstable governance, and surging gang violence. Advocacy groups argue that removing protections now would expose thousands to life-threatening conditions in a country still struggling to recover.