Judge Temporarily Extends Protections for Yemeni Refugees
A federal judge in Manhattan has temporarily extended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 3,000 Yemeni refugees, which was due to expire. The decision by Judge Dale E. Ho comes as a lawsuit challenging the termination of these protections by the Trump administration is underway.
The Trump administration had previously announced the end of TPS for nine countries, including Yemen, Haiti, Venezuela, and Ethiopia. TPS allows individuals to stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation and provides work and travel authorization. Judge Ho criticized former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for not adhering to the established process for changing TPS status.
In his ruling, Judge Ho highlighted a controversial social media post by Noem, where she advocated for a travel ban on countries she described in derogatory terms. On February 13, Noem officially announced the termination of TPS for Yemen, arguing it was not in the “national interest” for Yemeni refugees to remain in the U.S.
The judge’s decision pointed out the personal stories of some Yemeni TPS holders, including a pregnant woman in Detroit whose unborn child requires medical care not available in Yemen, and a former human rights worker in Brooklyn facing threats from militias in Yemen.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, TPS was intended to be a temporary measure. Their statement emphasized that allowing Yemenis to stay temporarily in the U.S. contradicts the national interest, aligning with the Trump administration’s approach to immigration.
Razeen Zaman from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund praised the ruling, noting it affirms that TPS should be based on actual conditions rather than political motivations. Zaman pointed out that despite acknowledging the dangers in Yemen, Homeland Security moved to end protections.
Yemeni Community Response
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund released statements from several Yemenis involved in the lawsuit. One anonymous plaintiff described TPS holders as valuable contributors to society, encompassing various professions from engineers to essential workers. The decision, according to another plaintiff, provided much-needed relief after enduring prolonged uncertainty.
Yemen received TPS designation in 2015, shortly after the outbreak of its civil war. The status has been renewed multiple times by subsequent U.S. administrations, with the latest extension planned for 2024. Estimates suggest about 2,300 Yemenis can reapply for protection, with an additional 1,700 eligible for the first time.
Judge Ho’s ruling aligns with other recent court decisions allowing individuals from different countries facing severe circumstances to remain in the U.S.
For further details, you can read the full report from the Associated Press.
