Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is moving full steam ahead.
The courts have been trying to stop him at every turn.
And now the Supreme Court gives Trump the green light to deport 350,000 Venezuelans with this shocking ruling.
Trump’s deportation agenda gets major Supreme Court victory
The U.S. Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a major victory on Monday when it ruled the government can move forward with its plan to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants.
In an unsigned order with no explanation, the highest court in the land put on hold a lower court ruling that had blocked the administration’s attempt to revoke protections that shielded these immigrants from deportation.
The ruling represents one of the most significant immigration victories for the Trump administration since returning to office in January, and signals that the Supreme Court may be inclined to give the executive branch wide latitude on immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked TPS status for Venezuelans back in February, effectively ending legal protections that were granted under the Biden administration.
The program, first introduced in 1990, offers eligible migrants from countries ravaged by war or natural disasters the right to live and work legally in the United States.
Lower courts attempted to block deportation plan
The Trump administration’s February decision to end these protections sparked immediate legal challenges.
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen initially blocked the move, saying the government’s action appeared “unauthorised by law, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus.”
In his ruling, Judge Chen argued that removing the protections would “inflict irreparable harm” on Venezuelan families, cost billions in economic output, and damage public health and safety.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld Judge Chen’s ruling, prompting the administration to take the case to the Supreme Court with an emergency request.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued forcefully that the lower court judge had overstepped his authority and interfered with the executive branch’s rightful control over immigration policy.
“The district court entered nationwide relief supplanting Secretary Noem’s assessment of the national interest—an area into which a district court is uniquely unqualified to intrude,” Sauer wrote in the government’s filing.
Sauer insisted that immigration decisions made under TPS law are not subject to judicial review and urged the court to act quickly.
“This court’s immediate attention is especially warranted because protracted litigation will effectively preclude the president from enforcing a critical component of the administration’s immigration policy,” he argued.
Decision could affect hundreds of thousands of immigrants
The Supreme Court’s ruling allows the administration to proceed with potentially deporting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have been living and working in the United States for years.
However, the court did clarify that individual immigrants could still pursue legal challenges if they faced the loss of work permits or removal proceedings.
Critics of the administration’s decision argue that federal law does not allow for early terminations of TPS extensions, but the Supreme Court’s decision suggests it may view the executive branch’s authority on immigration matters as paramount.
This case is just one part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape immigration policy. The administration has also asked the Supreme Court to end similar protections for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua.
Trump campaigned on a platform of stricter immigration enforcement, promising to deport millions of illegal immigrants and restore order at the southern border. Monday’s Supreme Court ruling represents a significant step toward fulfilling those promises.
The TPS program has been a focus of immigration debates for years. Supporters argue it provides humanitarian protection for people from countries experiencing severe problems, while critics contend it has become a backdoor to permanent residency for people who entered the country temporarily.
Secretary Noem has defended the administration’s decision, arguing that conditions in Venezuela have improved enough that TPS protections are no longer necessary.
While the legal battle may continue in lower courts, Monday’s Supreme Court ruling gives the administration considerable leverage to move forward with its immigration agenda, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants who have built lives in the United States.
