The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans living in the United States. The unsigned emergency order reversed a lower court ruling that had blocked the administration’s plan to strip protections through October 2026.
The decision allows deportations to begin immediately, despite the fact that many Venezuelans had valid work authorization and protection from removal under a 2023 extension issued by the Biden administration.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter in the court’s two-paragraph emergency ruling.
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Venezuela and TPS
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows individuals from countries experiencing war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary events to remain in the U.S. with work authorization. Venezuela was first designated for TPS under Biden in 2021, with an extension granted in 2023, set to expire in late 2026.
The decision stems from a legal challenge brought by TPS recipients and advocacy groups, who say the administration’s action will cause widespread humanitarian and economic harm.
The ruling does leave open the possibility that some Venezuelans with valid documentation could still challenge their individual deportations in court.
DHS Calls Ruling a ‘Win’ for Border Enforcement
Homeland Security officials welcomed the ruling.
“The Biden administration exploited parole programs to let poorly vetted migrants into this country — from MS-13 gang members to known terrorists and murderers,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. “The Trump administration is reinstituting integrity into our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe.”
Legal Uncertainty Remains for TPS Holders
The court’s decision is one of several recent immigration rulings, as the Trump administration aggressively seeks to undo Biden-era protections and dramatically increase deportations. Just last week, the Court blocked Trump from using the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to deport a separate group of Venezuelans in Texas accused of gang affiliation.
TPS protections for Haitian nationals are also expected to be rescinded in the coming months, further expanding the scope of deportation-eligible populations.