The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to lift a lower court’s order that prevents it from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Venezuelan migrants. This request came in an emergency appeal filed by U.S. Solicitor General Dean John Sauer. He argued that the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen is unreasonable and that it interferes with the government’s ability to make decisions about immigration policy.
In late March, Judge Chen ruled that the Trump administration could not revoke TPS protections for Venezuelans, citing their contributions to the U.S. economy and their high educational attainment. He noted that many of these migrants have college degrees and participate actively in the workforce, which benefits the economy significantly.
Sauer criticized Chen’s decision, stating that the court’s reasoning does not hold up. He emphasized that the TPS program involves important decisions related to foreign policy and immigration that should be left to the executive branch.
The appeal follows Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to revoke TPS for thousands of Venezuelans, which was set to take effect in April. This move came after former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had extended TPS for many migrants until 2026.
Sauer stated that as long as the lower court’s order is active, it forces the Secretary to allow many Venezuelan nationals to stay in the U.S., even though she believes it is against the national interest to do so. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of Venezuelan migrants living in the United States.