Thousands of families now face deportation as court clears path to end TPS protections amid Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with the Trump administration in a key immigration case, allowing it to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 300,000 Venezuelan immigrants—a move that could have wide-ranging humanitarian and political implications.
In a brief order, the justices granted an emergency request from the federal government, effectively reversing a policy decision made during the final year of the Biden administration that had extended TPS protections for Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse and political unrest. The court’s order means the Trump administration may now move forward with rolling back the humanitarian protections, though legal proceedings will continue in lower courts.
The decision did not include a full written opinion and was issued without full briefing or oral argument. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, one of the court’s liberal justices, publicly noted that she would have denied the government’s request, signaling internal division among the justices.
TPS is a humanitarian program established by Congress in 1990 that allows nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States on a temporary basis. The status is typically granted in 18-month increments and can be extended by the Department of Homeland Security as conditions in the home country evolve.
In March 2021, the Biden administration designated Venezuela for TPS, citing the country’s severe political crisis, widespread poverty, human rights abuses, and the collapse of basic infrastructure under the regime of Nicolás Maduro. The designation provided immediate relief to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans already residing in the United States, shielding them from deportation and allowing them to obtain work permits.
The Trump administration, which had consistently pushed to restrict TPS eligibility during its time in office, argued that the Biden administration’s late-term extension of TPS for Venezuelans was unlawful. Monday’s decision permits the government to immediately begin undoing those protections, though immigration advocates are expected to challenge the implementation of that rollback in federal court.
Legal experts say the case could have broader implications for the executive branch’s discretion over humanitarian immigration programs and the scope of presidential authority in determining TPS designations.
Immigrant rights groups and Democratic lawmakers were quick to condemn the ruling, warning that thousands of families could now face deportation to a country mired in crisis.
“This is a devastating decision for the Venezuelan community and a betrayal of America’s commitment to protect people fleeing humanitarian disasters,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. “We will continue fighting in court and in Congress to ensure TPS remains a lifeline.”
Venezuela remains one of the world’s largest sources of displaced people, with over 7 million Venezuelans having fled the country since 2014, according to the United Nations. Many of those currently under TPS in the U.S. have lived and worked in the country for years, contributing to local economies and communities while remaining in legal limbo.
The case now returns to the lower courts, where advocates hope to secure further legal protections and possibly prevent the mass termination of TPS protections.
