“Relief for Thousands”: Judge Blocks Trump and Protects Work Permits for Asylum Seekers and TPS Applicants

• Judge protects work permits for asylum seekers.
• TPS receives temporary relief.
• Trump faces another legal setback.

A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked one of the immigration measures advanced by President Donald Trump’s administration that sought to revoke work permits for tens of thousands of asylum seekers and beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS work permits).

The decision provides immediate relief for thousands of immigrants who were at risk of losing the ability to work legally in the United States while the legal battle over the new restrictions continues.

The order was issued by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton, who ruled that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may not, for now, enforce several policies related to the new immigration legislation approved by Congress in 2025.

The ruling will remain in effect until the judge decides whether to grant a longer-lasting injunction, a decision he said he will issue before August 5.

Court Ruling Temporarily Blocks One of Trump’s Immigration Measures

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by a coalition of immigrant rights organizations and labor unions led by Democracy Forward.

The plaintiffs argue that USCIS unlawfully implemented several provisions of the law passed by Congress without following the administrative procedures required under federal law.

Among their arguments is that the agency never opened a public comment period before adopting the new policies.

They also contend that the government retroactively applied employment restrictions established under the 2025 law, something they argue is contrary to existing law.

Thousands of TPS Beneficiaries Avoid Losing Their Work Authorization

The lawsuit warned that one of the challenged policies could have caused thousands of TPS beneficiaries from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine to lose their authorization to work beginning this Wednesday.

According to the plaintiffs, USCIS improperly shortened the period during which these individuals could keep their TPS work permits valid.

For now, the court’s decision prevents those restrictions from taking effect while the case moves forward.

Although the judge allowed USCIS to continue collecting the new fees established under the law, he made clear that the agency may not revoke work permits or impose penalties on individuals who do not pay those fees while the court order remains in effect.

The 2025 Law Changed the Rules for Asylum and TPS

The dispute arises from the tax and spending bill promoted by Donald Trump and approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in July 2025.

That legislation established filing fees for asylum applications in the United States for the first time.

It also changed the rules governing employment authorization for people with Temporary Protected Status.

TPS is an immigration program that allows individuals from countries affected by war, armed conflict, natural disasters, or other emergencies that make returning unsafe to remain and work legally in the United States.

As part of its immigration agenda, the Trump administration has sought to terminate TPS for citizens of more than a dozen countries.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to move forward with ending TPS protections for thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

Legal Battle Over TPS Continues as Thousands Await a Decision

Attorneys for Democracy Forward argue that the new USCIS policies should never have taken effect because they violate the Administrative Procedure Act.

They also contend that Congress did not authorize the retroactive application of the new employment restrictions to individuals who were already protected under TPS.

Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, said the judge’s decision temporarily protects the livelihoods of thousands of families while the courts review the legality of the measures implemented by the Trump administration.

Although the government has ended TPS for several countries, it decided in January to temporarily extend protections for citizens of El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine.

Currently, TPS for Salvadoran beneficiaries remains in effect until September 9, while protections for beneficiaries from Sudan and Ukraine continue through October 19.

The case was filed in federal court in Boston and assigned to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton, who was appointed by former Republican President George H. W. Bush. He must decide before August 5 whether to keep the USCIS policies suspended for the remainder of the litigation.

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Trump Suffers Major Setback Over Minnesota Sanctuary Laws

SOURCE: Univision / El Financiero