Judiciary thwarts Trump administration's plan to deport thousands of Yemenis from America

A federal judge on Friday blocked the administration of US President Donald Trump from moving forward next week with its plans to end the temporary legal protection status that allowed more than 2,800 people from Yemen to remain and work in the United States.

Federal Judge Dale Ho, in Manhattan, issued this decision at the request of a group of Yemeni citizens who filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security's decision to withdraw the "Temporary Protected Status," which had previously been granted to them, effective Monday.

The judge issued the ruling just two days after the US Supreme Court considered the administration's challenge to similar rulings that prevented the termination of protection status granted to more than 350,000 people from Haiti and 6,100 from Syria.

Exigencies of the Moment

Federal law provides for granting "Temporary Protected Status" to those whose home countries are experiencing natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary events.

The Temporary Protected Status program grants eligible immigrants work permits and temporary protection from deportation from the United States, according to Reuters.

Judge Ho, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, said he would normally wait for guidance from the Supreme Court, but explained that "the exigencies of the current moment" compelled him to issue a ruling now.

The judge described Yemeni Temporary Protected Status holders as law-abiding individuals who have been allowed not to return to a country "ravaged by civil war" for most of the past decade.

Legal Overreach

He acknowledged that the decision to extend their Temporary Protected Status is subject to periodic review. However, he stated that former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not consult with relevant government agencies before terminating Yemen's Temporary Protected Status, as required by law.

The judge added: "Congress, by law, has established a mechanism for this review, a mechanism that the Secretary (Kristi) did not adhere to here."

In contrast, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement that allowing Yemeni citizens to remain in America is not in the national interest.

He added: "Temporary means temporary, and the final word will not be for activist judges legislating from the bench."

Washington, as part of Trump's tough agenda on immigrants, seeks to end the Temporary Protected Status program for citizens of 13 countries.

That move has been met with repeated injunctions from judges who have thwarted the US administration's efforts in this regard.