A US federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from enforcing new immigration policies that would have taken away work permits from thousands of asylum seekers and people protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The decision provides temporary relief to many immigrant families who rely on their jobs while the legal battle continues.
The ruling was issued by US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston after a coalition of immigrant rights organisations and labour unions challenged the policies introduced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). According to the lawsuit, the agency implemented the new rules without giving the public the opportunity to review or comment on them, a process normally required under federal law.
The new immigration measures stem from legislation passed in 2025, which introduced new asylum application fees and placed additional restrictions on employment authorisation for people with TPS. Temporary Protected Status allows individuals from countries affected by war, natural disasters, or other serious crises to live and work legally in the United States until conditions improve in their home countries.
The lawsuit specifically argued that the administration attempted to apply the new restrictions retroactively, putting TPS holders from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine at immediate risk of losing their legal right to work. Without the court’s intervention, many of these individuals could have faced job losses within days.
Judge Gorton ruled that while USCIS may continue collecting the newly introduced application fee, it cannot revoke work permits or impose penalties on individuals who have not yet paid the fee. The temporary order will remain in effect until the judge decides whether to issue a longer injunction, with a decision expected by August 5.
Democracy Forward, the legal organisation representing the plaintiffs, welcomed the decision, saying it protects thousands of families from losing their livelihoods while the courts determine whether the administration’s immigration policies comply with federal law. For now, eligible TPS beneficiaries from the affected countries can continue working legally in the United States as the case moves forward.
