Federal Appeals Court Blocks Termination of TPS for 600,000 Venezuelans

A federal appeals court unanimously ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 600,000 Venezuelan nationals living in the United States. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision blocking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's revocation of TPS extensions, citing that the administration lacked statutory authority and that such sudden reversals undermine the purpose of TPS as designed by Congress. The court emphasized that TPS provides predictable and dependable protections insulated from political shifts, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The panel's decision, supported by judges appointed by Clinton, Obama, and Biden, found that ending the protections prematurely would cause irreparable harm, including fears of family separation and deportation. This ruling follows a complex legal battle including a Supreme Court stay that temporarily allowed the administration's termination notices to take effect. The Biden administration initially granted TPS designations arguing Venezuela's conditions warranted protection, while the Trump administration claimed improvements justified ending them, a stance the courts have rejected so far.