President Donald Trump’s administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to revoke deportation protections for Venezuelan migrants in the US, put in place by a lower federal court.
The big picture: The dispute arose from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision earlier this year to terminate temporary protected status for Venezuelan migrants, which was challenged by a group of Venezuelan nationals under the Administrative Procedure Act, alleging racial and political bias as the motivation behind the decision.
- A federal district court in California temporarily blocked Noem’s decision from being enforced in late March, safeguarding the protections for over 300,000 Venezuelan nationals. The Trump administration’s request to block this order was also declined by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in mid-April.
Zoom in: The Trump administration asserts that the lower court’s order undermines executive branch prerogatives, delays crucial policy decisions, and infringes on immigration policy flexibility recognized by Congress. They have filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, marking the 11th such case involving Trump’s second term to reach the Court.
- The Supreme Court is also considering appeals related to the dismissal of independent agency board members, transgender military service, and the removal of immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act, in addition to this appeal. The Court has requested a response from the lawyers representing the Venezuelan nationals by May 8.
