Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Plan to Strip TPS Work Permits

On July 21, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston issued a five-page order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from revoking work permits for tens of thousands of asylum seekers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The order will stay in effect while the judge considers a longer-term injunction, with a decision expected by August 5.

The Straits Times

The contested measures derive from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax and spending law championed by President Donald Trump and passed by the Republican-controlled Congress in July 2025. The law introduced an annual asylum fee and limited employment authorization for individuals holding TPS.

Al Jazeera (website)

TPS is a humanitarian designation that lets migrants from countries experiencing war, natural disaster, or other crises live and work in the United States until conditions improve. The administration has sought to end TPS for more than a dozen nations; the U.S. Supreme Court previously allowed termination for Haitian and Syrian nationals.

The Independent

• The policies would have affected TPS holders from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine, whose TPS designations remain valid through September 9 (El Salvador) and October 19 (Sudan and Ukraine).

The Straits Times

• The injunction protects “tens of thousands” of individuals from immediate loss of employment authorization.

Al Jazeera (website)

• Skye Perryman, president and CEO of the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward, said the ruling ensures families will not lose their livelihoods while courts assess the legality of the administration’s actions.

The Independent

• The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not commented on the order.

The Independent

• Plaintiffs argue the USCIS changes violated the Administrative Procedure Act because the public was not given notice or an opportunity to comment before the rules were adopted.

The Independent

• They also contend the retroactive application of the new work-authorization limits to existing TPS holders lacks statutory authority.

The Straits Times

• “This decision protects thousands of asylum seekers and TPS holders from immediate and irreparable harm while this case moves forward,” — Democracy Forward

Al Jazeera (website)

Judge Gorton will issue a decision on whether to grant a longer-term injunction by August 5.

The Straits Times