Judge Orders Trump to Update USCIS Website on Venezuelan TPS Status

(UNITED STATES) A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately update the USCIS website to show that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans remains in effect, after the government failed to comply with a prior court order that preserved protections.

On September 11, 2025, U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen ruled that the administration must correct all official communications and open a 24-hour TPS re-registration window to fix harm caused by the earlier failure to reflect the program’s ongoing status. The order comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moves to end TPS for Venezuela, creating a tense split between agency announcements and court directives, and leaving many families in legal limbo across the United States 🇺🇸.

Judge Chen’s order follows weeks of confusion after DHS announced on September 3 that it would terminate the 2021 TPS designation for Venezuela, with the program set to expire on September 10 and termination to take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The official notice sets the effective end date at 11:59 p.m., local time, on November 7, 2025. But due to ongoing litigation, the judge held that TPS protections continue for many individuals, and he rejected the government’s claim that his earlier order was not yet in effect, stating it was “effective immediately.”

Plaintiffs in the case include the National TPS Alliance, the ACLU, and partner groups. They argued that the government’s failure to communicate the court’s ruling caused Venezuelan TPS holders to lose jobs, face detention, and miss chances to renew status and work authorization. According to court filings, the lack of timely updates on the USCIS website led some employers to treat EADs tied to TPS as expired, even when the court had already extended protections for affected workers.

Policy order and required website update

Judge Chen’s September 11 directive requires the government to do two things immediately:

1. Update federal websites (including USCIS) to reflect that TPS protections remain in effect for many Venezuelans while litigation proceeds.
2. Reopen TPS registration for Venezuelans for 24 hours to remedy harm caused by prior miscommunication.

This short window is meant to repair concrete harm and prevent eligible people from being locked out of status due to government error. The court’s order comes in the case National TPS Alliance, et al. v. Kristi Noem, et al., No. 3:25-cv-01766, which challenges the administration’s attempt to end TPS for Venezuela amid continuing danger and instability in the country, according to advocacy groups.

DHS, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, has argued that continuing TPS for Venezuelans undermines border security and does not serve the national interest. DHS framed the termination as part of broader migration management and foreign policy goals. At the same time, litigation has produced temporary protections that preserve TPS status and employment authorization for certain individuals while the case proceeds.

As of September 12, the legal picture is mixed:

• The administration has announced an end to TPS for Venezuela with a target effective date of November 7, 2025.
• A federal court has ordered the government to keep recognizing TPS protections for many people for now and to correct what appears on official pages.
• The judge emphasized agencies must not create confusion by leaving outdated language online, particularly the USCIS page that employers and workers consult for status and EAD validity.

DHS’s termination schedule, the active court order, and the short re-registration window overlap in a way that makes timing critical. The court set the 24-hour window to ensure eligible people are not locked out of status by errors or delays outside their control.

Example: A worker told by a manager that their TPS-based work card was no longer valid—based on an outdated website page—should now be able to point to the judge’s directive and, if eligible, complete re-registration during the court-ordered period.

VisaVerge.com reports that this clash between termination plans and court orders has sown deep uncertainty, especially among families who rely on steady work authorization to pay rent and keep children in school. According to VisaVerge.com analysis, many Venezuelans with TPS have held the same jobs for years and have U.S.-born children who depend on their income and employer health plans.

For authoritative status updates and deadlines, readers should check the official USCIS page on TPS for Venezuela:
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-venezuela.

The court’s order specifically requires that this page show that TPS protections remain in effect for many individuals while the case is pending and that the re-registration window is available for the 24-hour period ordered by Judge Chen.

Impact on applicants and employers

For TPS holders, immediate actions and considerations include:

• Verify the USCIS website now that the judge has ordered updates.
• If you believe you lost a job or faced penalties due to website errors, provide documentation of the court’s order to your employer and ask HR to review updated federal guidance.
• Speak with an attorney or advocacy group to confirm how the order applies to your specific situation, since timing and coverage can be complex.

Employment authorization remains the hinge of employment decisions:

• Under the court’s ruling, TPS-based EADs for many Venezuelans are treated as extended while litigation continues.
• Employers should be cautious with I-9 verification. If an employee presents a TPS-based EAD covered by the court order, employers should not terminate employment solely because DHS announced a phaseout.
• Companies using E-Verify should run status checks and align records with the most current legal guidance to avoid wrongful termination or unauthorized work.

The 24-hour re-registration window is narrow but meaningful:

• It aims to remedy missed chances caused by faulty federal messaging.
• Workers who qualify should complete the steps during that window and keep copies of any receipts or notices.
• If unsure whether you are covered by the court order, seek legal advice quickly, because the timing is strict and consequences for late action can be serious.

DHS has also signaled that people who choose to depart voluntarily may use the CBP Home app and receive incentives, including a complimentary plane ticket and a $1,000 exit bonus for self-deportation. That offer has drawn strong reactions: some view it as system relief, others see it as pressure to leave despite ongoing legal rights under TPS.

Employers face parallel risks:

• If they retain a worker whose authorization has truly ended, they may face penalties.
• If they terminate a worker who is protected by the court order, they could face claims of wrongful termination or discrimination.
• Best practice: follow the USCIS website now that it is corrected, document decisions carefully, and apply consistent processes to all workers to avoid bias.

Background and stakes

• TPS for Venezuela began in March 2021 and was redesigned in October 2023.
• In 2025, the Trump administration moved to end several humanitarian programs, including TPS for Venezuela, prompting multiple lawsuits.
• Courts have intervened at key moments to prevent sudden loss of status, creating ongoing legal uncertainty.

Advocacy groups assert that conditions in Venezuela still make return dangerous for many people and view the termination plan as a sharp turn away from humanitarian relief. The administration frames the shift as necessary for border control and national interest. Judge Chen’s order does not resolve that broader dispute; it enforces compliance with his earlier ruling and aims to prevent further harm while litigation continues.

Important dates and takeaways

• DHS termination effective date: November 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (local time)
• Court-ordered re-registration window: 24 hours, to be opened immediately per Judge Chen’s order
• While the case is pending, TPS protections for many Venezuelans remain in place

Practical steps to reduce risk:

• Check the USCIS website daily for the latest TPS language and any posted registration window.
• Keep a file with your TPS approval, EAD, and any receipts or court-related notices.
• If your job was cut due to a claim that TPS ended, share the court order and request HR review.
• If you manage hiring, train staff on I-9 and E-Verify updates connected to TPS and document each decision.

“Judge Chen’s order seeks to stop the harm caused by mixed signals and force the government to present one clear message: while the case is ongoing, TPS protections for many remain in place, and Venezuelans covered by the order should not be treated as if their status already ended.”

With the legal clock ticking, rely on official updates and act quickly when windows open. The choices made in the coming days and weeks—by families, employers, and federal agencies—will determine whether protections continue smoothly or whether confusion leads to more sudden job losses and needless fear.