A federal judge in California decided to postpone his ruling on the lawsuit filed by a pro-immigrant alliance against the Government of Donald Trump for the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) while waiting for an appeals court to rule, which keeps some 250,000 immigrants in the United States in uncertainty.
Judge Edward Chen of the Northern District Court of California temporarily stayed the proceedings in the case brought by the TPS National Alliance and seven affected Venezuelan immigrants while the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals considers a request from the Trump Administration on the scope of its final ruling.
TPS on hold for Venezuelans in the U.S.
José Palma, spokesman for the National TPS Alliance, explained to EFE that the lawsuit filed by them last February seeks to protect two groups of Venezuelans covered by the TPS granted by former President Joe Biden (2021-2025).
These two groups are the 2021, about 250,000, and the 2023 extension beneficiaries, about 350,000.
Last April, Chen temporarily blocked the federal government’s attempt to strip Venezuelans of TPS while the case moves forward.
That order protected the 350,000 Venezuelan beneficiaries from 2023, who were to lose their work authorization and protections against deportation last April.
The Trump Administration appealed that decision and won a victory in the Supreme Court, allowing it to terminate relief to Venezuelans who benefited from TPS in 2023 until Chen delivers a final decision.
According to Palma, Chen would already have his final ruling, but would be awaiting the appeals court’s decision on whether the judge’s opinion also includes Venezuelans favored by TPS in 2021.
The 2021 ones will have their protection expires on September 10, 2025, among other objections from White House lawyers.
A quarter of a million Venezuelans were granted immigration relief in 2021 and the U.S. Executive has not said whether it will extend or end this benefit.
“We wait for them to announce the termination,” laments Palma, while TPS remains on hold in the U.S.
With respect to the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the activist is not very hopeful either.
A panel recently handed the Trump Administration a victory after overturning a lower court ruling and allowing the termination of TPS for Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal.
But Palma maintains faith that Judge Chen will rule in favor of all affected Venezuelans.
Last April, Edward Chen temporarily blocked the federal government's attempt to strip Venezuelans of TPS while the case moves forward
QueOnnda.com
