In a major legal victory for former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–1 to lift a lower court injunction, allowing the administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 300,000 Venezuelan migrants. Notably, even liberal justices sided with the majority, with only Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.

The decision permits the Trump administration to move forward with plans to remove Venezuelan nationals who had been granted protection under TPS during President Biden’s term. U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer argued the lower court had exceeded its authority, claiming immigration policy decisions are the prerogative of the Executive Branch and are deeply tied to foreign policy.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem officially terminated Venezuela’s 2023 TPS designation in a February memo, citing that the current conditions no longer justified the special status. This reversed a series of extensions by former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who had justified TPS on the basis of unsafe conditions in Venezuela.

However, in March, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen temporarily blocked the termination, criticizing the administration’s rationale as racially charged and lacking evidence. The Supreme Court’s decision overrules that injunction, giving the Trump administration the green light to proceed.

This ruling is seen as a significant affirmation of presidential power over immigration policy, setting a precedent for how future administrations may handle similar TPS designations. The case underscores the high court’s willingness to defer to executive discretion in matters involving national interest and foreign policy.