A federal judge in San Francisco has issued a ruling that directly challenges the Trump administration's attempt to dismantle a Biden-era immigration program protecting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan nationals.
According to Daily Wire, U.S. Senior District Judge Edward Chen ordered the Department of Homeland Security to halt its plans to revoke temporary protected status (TPS) for 348,202 Venezuelans currently residing in the United States.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the National TPS Alliance against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision to terminate the program. Judge Chen, who was appointed during the Obama administration, determined that revoking TPS status would cause irreparable harm to both the Venezuelan beneficiaries and the U.S. economy.
Judge Chen strongly dismissed Secretary Noem's assertions regarding Venezuelan gang connections, particularly those related to Tren de Aragua. He characterized these claims as unfounded and potentially driven by racial stereotypes rather than concrete evidence.
The court's decision highlighted the lack of substantiated proof linking TPS recipients to criminal activities. Judge Chen emphasized that the administration's arguments failed to demonstrate any connection between Venezuelan TPS holders and gang membership or criminal behavior.
In his ruling, Chen pointed to data showing that TPS recipients actually demonstrate lower crime rates compared to the general U.S. population. This finding directly contradicted the administration's security concerns about the Venezuelan immigrant community.
Chen presented compelling statistics about the positive economic contributions of Venezuelan TPS beneficiaries. He noted their significant educational achievements and robust participation in the American workforce.
U.S. Senior District Judge Edward Chen stated:
The Secretary's rationale is entirely lacking in evidentiary support. For example, there is no evidence that Venezuelan TPS holders are members of the TdA gang, have connections to the gang, and/or commit crimes.
The judge further emphasized the economic benefits these immigrants bring to the United States, citing their high education levels and substantial tax contributions. He noted that between 40-54% of TPS holders possess bachelor's degrees, and their labor force participation rates range from 80-96%.
Trump border czar Tom Homan expressed strong disagreement with the court's decision, emphasizing the temporary nature of TPS designation. He criticized the ruling as being influenced by judicial activism rather than strict legal interpretation.
Tom Homan remarked:
President Trump is going to do his job by rule of law. The law says temporary status. Once the conditions change, then people should be removed from the United States. It's only a temporary status.
The administration's stance reflects a broader debate about the purpose and duration of temporary protected status programs. This ruling represents a significant setback to Trump's immigration agenda, particularly concerning the Venezuelan immigrant community.
The federal court's intervention in San Francisco has halted the Trump administration's attempt to end temporary protected status for over 348,000 Venezuelan nationals. Judge Edward Chen's ruling, which cited potential economic damage and rejected claims about gang affiliations, prevents Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from revoking the Biden-era protection program. As the legal battle continues, the decision ensures that hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans can maintain their work authorization and deportation protection while contributing to the American economy through taxes and labor participation.
