Judge Blocks Trump Bid to Revoke Immigrant Work Permits

A U.S. judge issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, blocking a Trump administration policy that would have revoked work authorization for thousands of immigrants. The policy, implemented in August 2019, targeted individuals from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine who had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS). U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis in Brooklyn ruled that the administration failed to follow proper administrative procedures when it rescinded the TPS designations for these countries and subsequently sought to terminate the work permits. The judge stated that the government's actions were arbitrary and capricious, violating the Administrative Procedure Act. This ruling prevents the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from revoking the work permits for approximately 300,000 individuals while the lawsuit challenging the policy proceeds. The plaintiffs in the case argued that the termination of TPS and the associated work permits would cause irreparable harm to them and their families, as well as to the U.S. economy. Immigrant advocacy groups and legal organizations hailed the decision as a significant victory for TPS holders. The Department of Homeland Security had previously argued that the TPS designations for these countries were no longer warranted due to improved conditions. However, Judge Garaufis found the administration's justifications insufficient and its process flawed. The preliminary injunction will remain in effect until a final decision is made in the ongoing litigation. This legal challenge is part of a broader effort by immigrant rights advocates to protect TPS holders from deportation and loss of legal status.