Federal Judge Blocks Parts of Trump-Era Immigration Policy Affecting Venezuelans
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
A U.S. federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to invalidate work permits and lawful status documents for about 5,000 Venezuelans, a subset of the nearly 350,000 whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) the U.S. Supreme Court had recently allowed to be terminated.
In a Friday ruling, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco found that Homeland Security Secretary Christine Noem likely overstepped her authority when she moved in February to invalidate the documents—while simultaneously ending TPS protections.
While the Supreme Court ruling on May 19 lifted Judge Chen’s earlier block on the broader termination of TPS for Venezuelans, it explicitly allowed for continued legal challenges to the invalidation of documents, such as work permits and residency cards.
These documents were issued under the administration of former President Joe Biden, who extended TPS by 18 months until October 2026, citing ongoing crises in Venezuela.
TPS is granted to nationals of countries experiencing extraordinary conditions such as natural disasters or armed conflict.
Former Suriname Foreign Minister Sworn In as OAS Secretary General
Albert Ramdin, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname, was sworn in on Friday as the new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).
Ramdin, who previously served as Assistant Secretary-General, replaces Luis Almagro, a seasoned Uruguayan diplomat and politician.
In his inaugural address, Ramdin outlined four strategic priorities for his five-year term, with a focus on peacebuilding, human rights, democracy, and reducing inequality across the Americas. He also welcomed Colombian diplomat Laura Gil as the first female Under-Secretary-General in the OAS’s history.
The new Secretary General takes office at a critical moment marked by growing geopolitical tensions, democratic backsliding, and worsening social disparities.
Search Continues After Boat Capsizes Near Albina Resort
In Suriname, authorities are continuing a search operation following the capsizing of a boat near the Albina Resort. Ten people from French Guiana were reportedly onboard.
So far, three bodies have been recovered: a three-year-old boy, 46-year-old David Machino, and 25-year-old Gerald Gape. After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the bodies were returned to their families in French Guiana.
Four passengers survived, but four others—two men and two children—are still missing. Both Surinamese and French authorities have launched a joint search operation, deploying personnel and specialized equipment in hopes of locating the remaining victims.
