On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump administration the authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan nationals. The program, which provides deportation relief and work authorization to migrants from countries experiencing armed conflict or natural disasters, was previously extended by the Biden administration through October 2026.
The decision came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, appointed under President Trump, moved to revoke the TPS designation for Venezuela. Her order was initially blocked by a lower court, which argued that the reversal was politically and racially motivated. However, in a 6–3 ruling, the Supreme Court lifted the injunction, allowing the administration to proceed while legal challenges continue.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a strong dissent, warning that the decision could cause “irreparable harm” to families who have built their lives in the U.S. under the protections of TPS. Advocacy groups and immigrant rights organizations echoed these concerns, stating that many affected Venezuelans have lived in the U.S. for years and contribute meaningfully to local economies.
The ruling is expected to have a profound impact on tens of thousands of families who may now face deportation proceedings. In recent months, the Trump administration has also moved to cancel TPS protections for migrants from Afghanistan and Cameroon. Separately, an attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans labeled as security threats was blocked by the courts earlier this year.
Critics say the administration’s actions represent a systematic dismantling of humanitarian protections embedded in U.S. immigration law. Legal experts anticipate further constitutional challenges, but for now, the ruling allows immigration enforcement to resume removal proceedings against TPS holders from Venezuela.
