Judge Upholds Work Permits and Deportation Protections for 5,000 Venezuelans

WASHINGTON — In a significant legal ruling, a federal judge in California has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke work permits and other legal documents for 5,000 Venezuelans. This decision comes amid a broader case involving nearly 350,000 Venezuelans whose temporary legal protections were affected by a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen, extends protections for this specific group until October 2026. This extension remains in effect while the ongoing legal battle over the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians unfolds.

These 5,000 individuals received their extended protections from immigration officials prior to the Supreme Court’s decision on May 19, which cleared the way for the Trump administration to begin dismantling protections for a larger population of Venezuelans.

During a recent court hearing, Judge Chen recognized the precarious situation for this subgroup, stating that their work permits would remain valid until the court reaches a final decision regarding their TPS status, initially set to expire on April 7.

Chen, appointed by former President Barack Obama, previously blocked plans to terminate protections for all 350,000 Venezuelans. While the Supreme Court ruling allows for continued legal challenges, affected individuals now face the looming risk of deportation.

The case is currently under review by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is scheduled to hear oral arguments in July.