Supreme Court allows Trump to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans who risk deportation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially exposing them to deportation.
The court's order, with only one noted dissent, puts on hold a ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that kept in place Temporary Protected Status for the Venezuelans that would have otherwise expired last month. The justices provided no rationale, which is common in emergency appeals.
The status allows people already in the United States to live and work legally because their native countries are deemed unsafe for return due to natural disaster or civil strife.
The high court's order appears to be the "single largest action in modern American history stripping any group of non-citizens of immigration status," said Ahilan Arulanantham, one of the attorneys for Venezuelan migrants.
"This decision will force families to be in an impossible position either choosing to survive or choosing stability," said Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera, who sued to try and stop the Trump administration from revoking legal protections from her and others like her.
"Venezuelans are not criminals," Gonzalez Herrera said.
"We all deserve the chance to thrive without being sent back to danger," she said.
The ramifications for the hundreds of thousands of people affected aren't yet clear, Arulanantham said.
Mariana Moleros, her husband and their daughter left their native Venezuela in September 2005 after receiving death threats for their open political opposition to the socialist government. They came to the United States hoping to find peace and protection and requested asylum, but their application was denied.
They were temporarily granted TPS but now they live in fear again — fear of being detained and deported to a country where they don't feel safe.
"Today we are all exposed to being imprisoned in Venezuela if the US return us," said Moleros, a 44-year-old Venezuelan attorney who lives in Florida. "They should not deport someone who is at risk of being assassinated, torture and incarcerated."
A federal appeals court had earlier rejected the administration's request to put the order on hold while the lawsuit continues. A hearing is set for next week in front of US District Judge Edward Chen, who had paused the administration's plans.
In a statement, Homeland Security called the court's decision a "win for the American people and the safety of our communities" and said the Biden administration "exploited programs to let poorly vetted migrants into this country."
"The Trump administration is reinstituting integrity into our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe," said spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.
The case is the latest in a string of emergency appeals President Donald Trump's administration has made to the Supreme Court, many of them related to immigration and involving Venezuela. Earlier this month, the government asked the court to allow it to end humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, setting them up for potential deportation as well.
The high court also has been involved in slowing Trump's efforts to swiftly deport Venezuelans accused of being gang members to a prison in El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law called the Alien Enemies Act.
The complex economic and political crisis in Venezuela has driven more than 7.7 million people to leave the South American nation since 2013. Venezuela's most recent economic troubles pushed year-over-year inflation in April to 172%. The latest chapter even prompted President Nicolás Maduro to declare an "economic emergency" last month. Maduro, whose reelection last year to a third term has been condemned internationally as illegitimate, also has cracked down on his political opponents.
In the dispute over TPS, the administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including ending the temporary protected status for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians. That status is granted in 18-month increments. Venezuela was first designated for TPS in 2021; Haiti, in 2010.
Last week, DHS announced that TPS for Afghanistan, first provided in 2022, would end in mid-July.
The protections for Venezuelans had been set to expire April 7, but Chen found that the expiration threatened to severely disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and could cost billions in lost economic activity.
Chen, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, found the government hadn't shown any harm caused by keeping the program alive.
But Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote on behalf of the administration that Chen's order impermissibly interferes with the administration's power over immigration and foreign affairs.
In addition, Sauer told the justices, people affected by ending the protected status might have other legal options to try to remain in the country because the "decision to terminate TPS is not equivalent to a final removal order."
Congress created TPS in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
8 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Trump says deal with Xi 'extremely hard' as steel tariffs double
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that it was "extremely hard" to reach a deal with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but the EU touted progress in its own trade talks with Washington even though the US president doubled global metal tariffs. Trump's latest trade moves came as ministers from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries gathered in Paris to discuss the outlook for the world economy in light of a US hardball approach that has rattled world markets. Trump's sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries have strained ties with trading partners and sparked a flurry of negotiations to avoid the duties. The White House has suggested the president will speak to Xi this week, raising hopes they can soothe tensions and speed up a trade deal between the world's two biggest economies. However, early on Wednesday, Trump appeared to dampen hopes for a quick deal. "I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!" he posted on his Truth Social platform. Asked about the remarks during a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: "The Chinese side's principles and stance on developing Sino-US relations are consistent." China was the main target of Trump's April tariff blitz, hit with levies of 145 percent on its goods and triggering tit-for-tat tariffs of 125 percent on US imports. Both sides agreed to temporarily de-escalate in May, after Trump delayed most sweeping measures on other countries until July 9. His latest remarks came hours after he increased his tariffs on aluminum and steel from 25 percent to 50 percent, raising temperatures with various partners while exempting Britain from the higher levy. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said after talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the OECD meeting in Paris that raising the metal tariffs "doesn't help the negotiations". The two sides were nonetheless "making progress" in their negotiations, Sefcovic said at a news conference. Goods from the 27-nation bloc will be hit with 50-percent tariffs on July 9 unless it reaches a deal with Washington. The EU has vowed to retaliate. "We did very much focus on these negotiations, and I still believe in them," Sefcovic said, adding that he was optimistic that a "positive result" could be reached. The US-EU meeting took place a day after the OECD cut its forecast for global economic growth, blaming Trump's tariff blitz for the downgrade. "We need to come up with negotiated solutions as quickly as possible, because time is running out," German economy minister Katherina Reiche warned. French trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin said: "We have to keep our cool and always show that the introduction of these tariffs is in no one's interest." After talks between UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Greer on Tuesday, London said that imports from the UK would remain at 25 percent for now. Both sides needed to work out duties and quotas in line with the terms of a recently signed trade pact. "We're pleased that as a result of our agreement with the US, UK steel will not be subject to these additional tariffs," a British government spokesperson said. The Group of Seven advanced economies -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- was due to hold separate trade talks on Wednesday. Mexico will request an exemption from the higher tariff, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said, arguing that it was unfair because the United States exports more steel to its southern neighbour than it imports. "It makes no sense to put a tariff on a product in which you have a surplus," Ebrard said. Mexico is highly vulnerable to Trump's trade wars because 80 percent of its exports go to the United States, its main partner. While some of Trump's most sweeping levies face legal challenges, they have been allowed to remain in place for now as an appeals process takes place. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the Trump administration sent letters to governments pushing for offers by Wednesday as the July 9 deadline approached. (AFP)
Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Foreign policy and security tasks pile up: What awaits President Lee?
South Korea's newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, takes office facing a mountain of foreign and security challenges — most notably, an unprecedented squeeze from Washington, where President Donald Trump's protectionist 'America First' agenda is leading to tariffs and testing the resilience of US alliances. Lee confronts not only the persistent and existential threat from North Korea — with inter-Korean relations at rock bottom — but also the imperative to recalibrate the country's diplomatic trajectory amid an intensifying US-China rivalry and an increasingly fluid global order. But these are far from the only challenges on Lee's plate. Tariff battles Front and center for the Lee administration are high-stakes tariff negotiations with the Trump administration, as sweeping US tariffs are already reshaping South Korea's exports and raising further uncertainty about the future of South Korea's economy. 'The number one priority, of course, is to have an initial meeting with the (US) President," Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Wednesday, underscoring the importance of leader-to-leader diplomacy in tariff negotiations. "We've been in a period for six months where the Trump administration has been moving at 100 miles an hour, while South Korea has basically been stuck in neutral because it hasn't had a government. So making that first contact is very important.' Lee also said that tariff negotiations 'would become the most pressing issue we face right now,' alongside restoring people's livelihoods and reviving the economy amid slowing growth, in an interview with local radio broadcaster CBS on Monday — the final day of campaigning. Sectoral tariffs on cars and auto parts have taken effect, with new levies on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals looming. Aluminum and steel tariffs will double to 50 percent this week. All of these sectors are among South Korea's key export industries, accounting for a significant share of exports to the US. Meanwhile, 25 percent country-specific reciprocal tariffs on Korean goods remain under a moratorium until July 9. Korea pressed for bigger security share Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor of international relations at King's College London, forecast that 'a big bundle of issues' would be part of tariff negotiations and that 'security will be part of the discussion as well.' 'South Korea will try to have other issues thrown into the mix that go far beyond tariffs and economic matters." This broader agenda comes amid growing concerns over defense commitments. On the security front, the Trump administration has called for allies to shoulder more of the defense burden — both financially and militarily. Anxiety flared anew over a possible reduction of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea after a Wall Street Journal report in May suggested the Pentagon was considering relocating about 4,500 troops elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, a claim the Pentagon has denied. Both the internally classified 'Interim National Defense Guidance,' reported by The Washington Post in March, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks in May on the development of the 2025 National Defense Strategy underscore that US forces will prioritize deterring China. At the same time, allies are expected to take on greater responsibility for other regional threats — meaning North Korea, in South Korea's case. Retired Adm. Harry Harris, former commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command and former ambassador to South Korea, previously told The Korea Herald that he cannot rule out the possibility of a repositioning of US Forces Korea as part of the Pentagon's broader strategic realignment in the Indo-Pacific region to handle regional challenges holistically. In Seoul, concerns are also mounting that the operational scope of US Forces Korea could extend beyond the Korean Peninsula and expand to regional defense, including being repurposed for a potential Taiwan emergency. 'In 2003, some units from US Forces Korea were redeployed to Iraq. Now, if they are redeployed — not to Iraq, but to areas near Taiwan — that could present a whole new set of challenges, and it's something we need to think about very carefully," former Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said during last week's Jeju Forum. Whether to attend NATO summit Another daunting task is resetting the diplomatic compass with China amid intensifying US-China competition — and with Russia, as US-Russia relations remain volatile and the Ukraine war enters a new phase. 'Lee has been pretty clear and vocal in the debates and in his statements that he wants to 'balance out' — I think that was the term he used — the relationship between the United States and China,' Cha said. "Lee is going to have to finesse this. There really is a hard line in the sand that the (US) administration has drawn." Cha also warned of 'negative externalities' if the Lee administration walks back too far from the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration's firm policy on China. Another key and imminent decision for the new administration is whether to attend the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25, to which South Korea has been invited as one of four Indo-Pacific partners — Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attended three consecutive NATO summits from 2022 to 2024, where participating countries issued strong statements condemning Russia and China for their roles in the Ukraine war and voiced concern over their growing strategic alignment. When asked whether he would consider attending the NATO summit, Lee took a noncommittal stance. 'With the domestic situation being so chaotic and complicated, unless there is a concrete agenda item, I'm not sure there is a real need to attend, so I have a lot of reservations about it,' Lee said during a news conference on May 25. China's West Sea markers raise alarm Besides the intensifying rivalry between the US and China, another major challenge for bilateral ties with China is Beijing's unilateral installation of buoys and structures in the jointly administered West Sea zone. Seoul has raised concerns about China's installation of three structures within the Provisional Measures Zone — a jointly managed area established due to overlapping exclusive economic zones — between 2018 and 2024. South Korea's Navy has also found 13 large Chinese lighthouse-style buoys, measuring 5 to 13 meters tall, installed in and around the PMZ between 2018 and 2023. Seoul's anxiety stems from China's past behavior both in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, including the building of artificial islands and military bases in disputed waters — often within other countries' exclusive economic zones — causing tensions with neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam. Unresolved JDZ between Seoul, Tokyo On Japan ties: Despite the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization, the long-standing dispute over the Korea-Japan Joint Development Zone for untapped natural resources beneath the East China Sea remains a key obstacle in bilateral relations. The agreement, enacted in 1978 for a 50-year period, can be terminated with three years' notice, with the earliest opportunity coming in June this year. Seoul has warned that even if the JDZ agreement is dissolved, overlapping claims —especially over Block 7 — will persist, and the issue has the potential to become a major source of tension between the two countries, particularly at this critical diplomatic juncture.
Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Lee Jae-myung faces first major test as US tariff deadline looms
Lee expected to play for time, using strategic flexibility rather than rushing into high-stakes deal with Trump Among the many pressing challenges facing newly elected President Lee Jae-myung, top of the agenda is navigating the ongoing tariff negotiations with the US. The clock is ticking as the July 8 deadline for the US tariff reprieve is approaching. The Trump administration imposed 25 percent 'reciprocal" tariffs on all imports from South Korea in April. Unless a new trade deal is reached, tariffs will jump from the current 10 percent to 25 percent when the 90-day grace period expires. Observers say the high-stakes negotiations will likely serve as an early and defining diplomatic test that could shape Lee's single, five-year presidency. Lee, who took office immediately without the usual two-month transition period, acknowledged the urgency of the situation even before his election victory. Asked what his first presidential directive would be on Monday, a day before the election, Lee said 'the most serious problem is the economy," identifying trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump as the 'most pressing issue' in an interview with CBS Radio. Since April, trade talks between Seoul and Washington have been ongoing, including a high-level '2+2' dialogue and two rounds of technical talks at the director level. Seoul has been pushing for reduced tariff rates or exemptions through a comprehensive deal covering both tariffs and broader economic cooperation. But progress has been slow, largely due to Korea's leadership vacuum, cycling through multiple acting presidents in recent months. Compounding the tariff issue, non-tariff barriers have emerged as a key sticking point in the bilateral talks. The US Trade Representative has particularly flagged Korea's restrictions on imports of US beef from cattle over 30 months old and regulations on the overseas transfer of high-precision mapping data. South Korea's Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who led the negotiations until recently, said that there was not enough time before the July deadline and suggested there could be potential delays due to the election. For export-dependent Korea, the outcome of the tariff talks will have far-reaching consequences. If reciprocal tariffs take effect, they could have a devastating impact on the Korean economy, already battered by global trade tensions and domestic political turmoil. The country's key export sectors, like steel and automobiles, are already hit with aggressive sector-specific duties from the US, Korea's second-largest trading partner after China. Now the baton is passed, and it's up to Lee to face Trump and strike a deal. Experts expect Lee will try to buy some time for trade talks and avoid being the first to strike a deal. He would likely observe how the US negotiates with similarly positioned countries such as Japan and India to set a benchmark. 'Lee won't overreact initially and he will take his time,' said Park Sang-byeong, a political commentator and professor at Inha University. 'Lee is unlikely to make quick decisions on trade, since the situation is changing within the US. Trump is also facing internal opposition at home, so there's no reason for Korea to move first.' During a televised debate on May 18, Lee said, 'There's no need to rush into an early agreement,' citing how Japan and China have revised their stances in their negotiations with the US. Heo Yoon, professor of international studies at Sogang University, emphasized the need for Seoul to check whether a delay to the so-called "July package" is feasible through the diplomatic dialogue channel with Washington. 'The administration needs to see if we can get more time in the discussions, and what Washington's sentiments are,' said Heo. 'In the meantime, Lee should appoint a new trade minister, who doesn't require a parliamentary confirmation hearing, or directly designate a high-level trade envoy, which would allow immediate engagement with Washington.' Many expect veteran trade negotiator Kim Hyun-chong, who served as Lee's campaign adviser on foreign affairs and national security, to take a leading role. Serving as trade minister for two liberal leaders, Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, Kim was central to establishing the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. Later, as Moon's chief trade negotiator, he handled the KORUS FTA renegotiation during Trump's first term. Last month, Kim was in Washington to meet with Trump officials, discussing tariff and trade-related issues. Lee-Trump chemistry: Fox vs. fox All eyes are now on how Lee's personal chemistry with Trump. As seen in his first term, Trump appears to prioritize personal rapport with other heads of state when cutting deals. A face-to-face meeting between the two could happen early this month if Lee decides to attend the G7 summit in Canada from June 15-17, or later at the NATO Summit in the Netherlands from June 24-25. Although ideologically different from the American leader, Lee has earned the nickname 'Korea's Trump' among supporters for his populist messaging, grassroots style and candid speech. Hong Hyeong-sik, a political analyst who runs local pollster Hangil Research, described Lee as a 'fox' -- a leader who is a strategic, adaptable and a problem-solver who uses a wide range of tactics to achieve his goals. 'Lee could be described as a fox. And for Trump, he appears outwardly a lion, but at his core is a classic fox,' said Hong. 'So when two foxes face off, it boils down to who can outmaneuver the other, with strategies and skills.' Despite both being instinctive political tacticians, Hong pointed out that their backgrounds differ. Trump comes with vast experience in deal-making as a businessman and former president. Lee, by contrast, has experience in legal activism and municipal governance, but has limited exposure to trade or security negotiations. 'When it comes to the technical nature of trade deals, Trump could have the advantage,' said Hong. 'But the trade deal isn't just about who's cleverer. It's about who holds the real cards and has more bargaining chips.' Hong raised concerns about whether Korea is in a strong enough position for negotiations with the US. "We think semiconductors, EVs, batteries and shipbuilding are bargaining chips," said Hong. "But the US has already brought much of that production home, and what's left is shipbuilding, and possibly defense."
