A federal judge in California has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants, giving them a crucial lifeline—at least for now.
This decision means that around 350,000 Venezuelans will continue to be protected from deportation and can keep their work permits, which were set to expire on April 7, 2025.
What Did the Court Decide?
On Monday, April 1, 2025, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen ruled in favor of TPS holders who filed a lawsuit against Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Trump. Noem had announced in February that TPS protections for Venezuelans would be revoked.
Judge Chen described Noem’s move as “unprecedented”, stating it lacked a proper phase-out period and was likely influenced by negative stereotypes about Venezuelan migrants.
“The Court finds that the Secretary’s action threatens to inflict irreparable harm on hundreds of thousands of persons… and injure public health and safety,” Chen wrote.
He added that the plaintiffs are likely to prove that Noem’s decision was “unauthorized by law, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus.”
What Is TPS?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a federal program created in 1990 that allows the U.S. to offer temporary immigration protections to people from countries facing war, natural disasters, or other crises.
TPS allows migrants to:
- Live and work legally in the U.S.
- Avoid deportation
- Renew their protections regularly
TPS does not offer a path to permanent residency, but it provides stability for people who cannot safely return home.
Why Was TPS for Venezuelans Targeted?
In February 2025, Kristi Noem announced the Trump administration would revoke the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuelans, arguing it was no longer in the “national interest.”
Noem acknowledged that conditions in Venezuela are still difficult but claimed that continuing TPS would hurt U.S. resources and security.
Her decision followed a Trump executive order calling for a review of all TPS programs to ensure they are “limited in scope.”
Why Are Advocates Celebrating?
Immigrant rights groups and legal experts welcomed the ruling, calling it a major victory.
“The Court’s decision provides crucial protection against mass deportations,” said Ahilan Arulanantham of the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy, who is one of the lead attorneys in the case.
If Noem’s plan had gone ahead, it would have triggered one of the largest deportation efforts in U.S. history.
What Happens Next?
This is not a final ruling, but a temporary block while the full lawsuit moves forward. For now:
- Venezuelan TPS holders will keep their protections
- The case will continue in Judge Chen’s courtroom
- A separate legal challenge is underway regarding TPS for Haitians, with a decision expected later this year
Background: Why Venezuelans Need TPS
Venezuela is facing political repression, a collapsed economy, and massive humanitarian issues under President Nicolas Maduro. Since 2015, nearly 8 million people have fled the country, creating the largest migration crisis in Latin America.
The U.S. first granted TPS to Venezuelans in 2021, and the Biden administration expanded the program in 2023.