Court Blocks Trump’s Move to End Protections for Venezuelan and Haitian Migrants

Wed Oct 22 2025 12:42:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A US judge rules that the attempt to strip protections for Venezuelan and Haitian migrants is unlawful, allowing hundreds of thousands to continue living and working in the country.

A federal judge has determined that the Trump administration's efforts to remove temporary legal protections for Venezuelan and Haitian migrants are illegal. This ruling ensures that about 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians can continue to reside and work in the US legally. The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security is expected to appeal against this decision, claiming the program had been misused. This case highlights ongoing debates about immigration policies in the US as the administration resists judicial intervention.

A US judge has ruled that the Trump administration's attempt to strip protections from Venezuelan and Haitian migrants is unlawful.

This decision by District Judge Edward Chen allows around 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians to live and work legally in the US, setting aside the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to end temporary protected status (TPS) for these individuals.

The TPS program was established in 1990 to protect migrants from countries suffering from dangerous conditions, including war and natural disasters.

Judge Chen's ruling stated that the DHS Secretary's actions in revoking protections were unprecedented and violated the law, emphasizing the dangerous conditions in the migrants' home countries.

A spokesperson for DHS criticized the ruling, stating the program had been politicized and suggesting that it did not reflect the will of the American people.

President Trump had previously sought to revoke these extensions and announced plans to end TPS for several nationalities. However, Judge Chen's decision counters those efforts, maintaining protections for many vulnerable migrants amid ongoing legal battles surrounding immigration policy.