A federal judge in San Francisco blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end temporary protections for more than 1.1 million immigrants from Venezuela and Haiti. The decision by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen allows roughly 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians to keep living and working in the United States.

Judge Criticizes Homeland Security

Judge Chen ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” in revoking protections, which he said would have forced people back into dangerous conditions. He noted that administrations for decades had extended Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, based on detailed reviews, and that Noem had overstepped her authority.

Reaction From Immigrant Advocates

Attorneys and advocates welcomed the ruling. Emi Maclean of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California said, “People have suffered unspeakable harm — including deportation and family separation — due to Secretary Noem’s discriminatory and harmful agenda. That must end now.”

Government’s Response

The Department of Homeland Security pushed back, calling TPS “a de facto amnesty program” that has been “abused, exploited, and politicized.” Officials vowed to continue legal efforts to end the program, arguing that only elected leaders — not judges — should make such decisions.

Conditions in Venezuela and Haiti

Millions of Venezuelans have fled political unrest, economic collapse, and hunger. Haiti has struggled with hunger, gang violence, and instability since the 2010 earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands. Both groups have relied on TPS to avoid deportation.

Legal Background

The Trump administration has sought to terminate TPS and Humanitarian Parole for about 1.5 million people. The case has bounced through multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, which earlier allowed temporary protections to lapse while litigation continued.

Human Impact

Court filings described deportations and detentions. One Venezuelan mother was deported in July after a routine check-in, leaving her husband to care for their baby alone. Another man, a FedEx worker, was detained during his check-in and feared being sent to prison abroad. “Immigrants like myself come to the United States to work hard and contribute, and instead our families and lives are being torn apart,” he wrote in a declaration.

Next Steps

The government is expected to appeal Chen’s ruling. A separate appeals court recently found that the administration did not have the authority to cancel TPS extensions granted by the Biden administration, signaling more legal battles ahead.

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