Immigrant Work Permit Block
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's Plan to Revoke Immigrant Work Permits
Anonymous
Key Points
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TPS holders from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine were specifically identified as at risk of losing work authorization under the new rules, a detail underscored by the injunction blocking those provisions.
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The new policy would impose an annual asylum application fee, with potential removal proceedings if the fee is not paid.
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The rule changes were applied retroactively to renewals filed before enactment but granted after the rule update, extending the impact beyond the law’s effective date.
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This case occurs against a backdrop of broader federal action in which the Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to act against thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants, illustrating ongoing legal tension surrounding these policies.
A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from stripping tens of thousands of immigrants of their work permits, according to The Independent. Judge Nathaniel Gorton issued the order, pausing new rules that would have cut or revoked work authorization for asylum seekers and Temporary Protected Status holders. The pause could last until August 5.
The ruling protects immigrants from countries including El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine, Hoodline reported. These groups were at direct risk of losing their right to work in the United States under the new policy.
New Rules Would Have Cut Permits and Added Fees
The Trump administration's new immigration rules made two major changes. First, they shortened the length of work permits for people whose renewals were filed before the rules took effect but approved after. Second, they added a new annual fee for asylum applications, NTD reported. Immigrants who do not pay the fee could face deportation proceedings.
Immigration rights groups and labor unions called the policy illegal. They argued the rules were applied retroactively — meaning the government changed the terms of permits that people had already applied for under the old rules. That retroactive reach extended the policy's impact far beyond its official start date.
Judge Steps In as Tens of Thousands Face Work Loss
Judge Gorton's order stops the government from enforcing the new permit rules while the case moves through court. The Independent reported that tens of thousands of asylum seekers and TPS holders were at risk of losing work authorization. TPS is a program that lets people from countries with dangerous conditions live and work legally in the United States.
Government lawyers argued the legal challenges came too late and should be thrown out on timing grounds. The judge disagreed and issued the temporary block. The broader question of whether the rules are legal remains unsettled and will be argued further in court.
Supreme Court Recently Sided With Trump on Haitian, Syrian Immigrants
The Boston ruling comes amid a larger legal battle over Trump's immigration agenda. The Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to move against thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants, The Epoch Times reported. That decision showed the courts are split on how far the administration can go.
The two rulings point in opposite directions. The Supreme Court gave the administration a win on one front, while the Boston judge pumped the brakes on another. Legal experts say the fights over immigrant work permits are far from over.
What Happens Next for Affected Immigrants
For now, the work permits of affected asylum seekers and TPS holders remain intact. The pause gives their lawyers time to argue the full case before any permits are cut. Hoodline reported that the order could hold through early August, giving courts weeks to weigh the legality of the new rules.
The stakes are high. Losing a work permit means losing income, housing stability, and legal status in some cases. Immigrants from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine are among those waiting to learn if they can keep their jobs while the courts decide.
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