Supreme Court Decision: Trump’s Move to End Temporary Legal Status for 500,000 Immigrants from Four Countries

The Supreme Court recently decided to let the Trump administration end a program that provided temporary legal status to over 500,000 immigrants, affecting those from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This ruling came after an urgent request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who argued that the program initiated by the Biden administration was not legally valid.

The initial program, which allowed these individuals to live and work in the U.S. for two years, was created in response to an increase in asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Under this policy, known as the CHNV parole program, immigrants could enter the U.S. if they passed security checks and had a sponsor who could support them.

Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor disagreed with the majority opinion, highlighting serious consequences for nearly half a million noncitizens should the program be revoked. Jackson pointed out that the ruling overlooks the potential chaos in people’s lives while their legal rights are still being evaluated.

This ruling by the Supreme Court puts a hold on a previous decision by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, who stated that the government couldn’t just cancel the status of these individuals without considering their unique circumstances. The government’s argument relied on the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants certain discretionary powers.

Experts in immigration law warn that if the administration proceeds as planned, the affected immigrants could lose their legal status and become undocumented, which would drastically limit their ability to work and lead to potential mass expulsions.

Public opinion on this issue is split. Many advocate for immigrant rights, arguing that these individuals contribute to society and the economy. A recent survey found that nearly 70% of Americans support paths to citizenship for long-term immigrants. The situation is evolving, and court battles are likely to continue as stakeholders push for fairness and a reevaluation of immigration policies.

For further information on immigration rights and current policies, check out this report by the Migration Policy Institute.

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