FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Media Inquiries Contact: press@alianzaamericas.org 

Cindy Cruz - El Salvador +503 7803 8465

Sandra Diaz - United States (773) 638-4278

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Chicago, IL - Judge Edward Chen's recent decision in the NTPSA v. Noem lawsuit temporarily blocks the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. This court ruling is a resounding blow to the arbitrary and groundless nature of the Trump administration's decision-making process. The court ruling exposes how the revocation of this essential protection lacked a legal basis and was driven by bias and unfounded arguments. 

From the outset, Secretary of Homeland Security Noem's decision to rescind the 2023 TPS extension violated administrative procedure law by ignoring established standards for implementing policy changes. As Judge Chen noted, this action was “arbitrary and capricious,” without adequate justification or consideration of the devastating impact it would have on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

One of the most alarming aspects of this decision was the government's attempt to falsely link the Venezuelan TPS beneficiary community with the Tren de Aragua criminal group. Judge Chen was clear in dismissing this argument, stating that “generalizing criminality to the Venezuelan TPS beneficiary population as a whole is baseless and denotes racism based on widespread false stereotypes.” The Venezuelan community in the United States has contributed significantly to the country economically, socially, and culturally, and should not be used as a scapegoat for partisan discriminatory moves that set back the design and implementation of public policies, such as TPS.

In addition to the violation of due process, the revocation of TPS would have caused irreparable harm to hundreds of thousands of families, jeopardizing their stability, security, and right to a dignified life. It would also have harmed the US economy, with losses of billions of dollars in productive activity. Secretary Noem's irresponsibility exposed thousands of Venezuelan families to countless hours of anxiety and terror, fearing expulsion to life-threatening conditions.

Judge Chen's decision sends a clear message: immigration policies cannot be motivated by bias or implemented arbitrarily. The immigrant community and its allies will remain vigilant, demanding a fair and legally based process to guarantee the stability of TPS holders. We await information from the Department of Homeland Security on how they will implement the court order so that TPS holders can promptly apply for the extension and receive work authorization.

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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.