Supreme Court Narrows TPS Protections for Venezuelans

The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward, for now, with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Venezuelans who received protection under the 2023 Biden administration extension, while those covered by the initial 2021 designation remain protected until later in 2025. The unsigned order, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting, stays a lower court injunction that had blocked the administration's plan, leaving the underlying legal challenge unresolved. This decision could eventually lead to the deportation of many Venezuelans if the legal process favors the administration. Supporters argue TPS is vital due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, while opponents claim it has been overused and is subject to executive discretion. The Court's ruling is limited to the TPS program for Venezuelans and does not address other groups or benefits, but signals that similar challenges to Biden-era immigration policies may arise. The justices stressed that their decision was procedural, focusing on executive authority rather than policy merits.