The United States Supreme Court has authorized President Donald Trump’s administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Venezuelans living in the country. This group of Latino migrants had been granted TPS in 2023 during President Joe Biden’s administration.
This Supreme Court decision allows the Trump administration to immediately terminate these individuals’ immigration status while the legal appeals process unfolds.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the removal of TPS for Venezuelans in early 2025. Meanwhile, a federal court in California had issued a temporary order keeping the program active until April 7, 2025. However, the Trump administration filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court, which resulted in the suspension of that judicial injunction.
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What is TPS and how can deportation from the U.S. be avoided?
Those who received TPS under the 2021 designation will keep their work permits and deportation protection until September 2025. However, those who gained TPS under the 2023 designation have lost their status immediately, according to early legal interpretations of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Organizations such as the National TPS Alliance and the American Venezuelan Caucus are currently examining whether parts of the court order might still offer some protection to certain beneficiaries. Legal experts warn that many Venezuelans could be deported before the case is fully resolved.
Options available to avoid deportation include:
- Filing an asylum application, either affirmative or defensive.
- Applying for permanent residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen or legal resident, which may require leaving the country after requesting parole.
- Applying for a U visa, aimed at victims of crimes in the U.S., with an annual cap of 10,000 visas.
TPS is a temporary immigration program that protects people from countries affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. Venezuela was added to this program in March 2021 and extended in 2023 under the Biden administration.