Federal Appeals Court Blocks Trump TPS Withdrawal for 600,000 Venezuelans

A federal appeals court has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to rescind Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans living in the United States, upholding a lower court's ruling that found the administration acted beyond its authority. The court emphasized that the TPS statute is designed to create stable and predictable protections, preventing sudden changes influenced by political shifts. The decision came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked extensions granted under the Biden administration, which initially provided TPS to Venezuelans due to unsafe conditions in their home country. Plaintiffs, including the National TPS Alliance, argued that the rollback violated the Administrative Procedure Act and was motivated by racial animus, claims supported by earlier district court findings. While the Trump administration criticized the ruling for undermining immigration integrity and plans to appeal, the court's unanimous panel, consisting of judges appointed by Democratic presidents, maintained the protections pending further legal proceedings. This ruling affects nearly 350,000 to 600,000 Venezuelans and delays TPS termination until at least October 2026.