Trump Asks Supreme Court to End Protected Status for Hundreds of Thousands of Venezuelans

What Happened?

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in its attempt to strip the temporary protected status from 350,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S.

In its filing, the Justice Department requested the high court block, for now, a March ruling that delayed President Donald Trump's plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections that would have expired in April.

Trump officials accused a San Francisco judge of improperly overstepping the executive branch’s authority over immigration policy.

U.S. District Judge, Edward Chen, blocked the White House in March and found the efforts were based on racial discrimination and Venezuelan gang-affiliated generalizations.

Solicitor General, John Sauer, urged the higher court to allow Homeland Security to proceed with actions that would have removed some of the TPS holders' protections last month.

He complained that Judge Chen 'cherry-picked' examples of racial discrimination.

'Forceful condemnations of gang violence and broad questioning of the integrity of the prior administration’s immigration practices, including potential abuses of the TPS program, do not evince discriminatory intent,' Sauer wrote.

Why it Matters

The emergency appeal is one of the latest attempts by the Trump administration to end TPS for Venezuelans.

A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing the legal status of over 530,000 Venezuelan, Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Haitian nationals under the Biden-era program.

In her 41-page ruling, U.S. District Judge, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, stated that migrants from the four countries could remain.

They were also allowed to obtain authorization to legally work or apply for status adjustments.

The controversial CHNV program and BP One app reportedly aimed to bring order amid the chaotic influx surrounding the Southwestern U.S. border.

It also granted immigrants the ability to live and work in the U.S. temporarily.

Homeland Security issued termination notices that instructed tens of thousands of immigrants to leave 'immediately', which created a huge uproar to keep the program operative.

But the Trump administration believes that there needs to be an end to the 'vicious cycle' of unlawful immigration.

How it Affects You

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the White House on some of these immigration measures.

Trump's attorneys have stated these immigration actions fall under the president's powers.

Ongoing legal battles brought forth continue to challenge these efforts.

Trump's motives to deport mass numbers of migrants would result in minimal due process, many have worried.

Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents under Trump's guidance continue to ramp up efforts.

It will be key if the higher court allows the previous Biden-era program to push forward.

The outcome, regardless of an asylum application, could result in a significant change for future work permit extensions.