U.S. Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's TPS Work Permit Rule

On July 21, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston issued a temporary emergency order that blocks the Trump administration’s policies aimed at revoking work permits for tens of thousands of asylum seekers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The policies, enacted under the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” would have imposed new asylum fees and retroactively ended employment authorizations for TPS beneficiaries from countries such as El Salvador, Sudan and Ukraine. The order, which remains in effect at least until August 5 while the court considers a longer injunction, was granted after a lawsuit filed by the advocacy coalition Democracy Forward, immigrant‑rights groups and labor unions. Judge Gorton noted that “the consequences faced by plaintiffs are potentially severe.” The ruling preserves work authorization for TPS holders and pending asylum applicants while the legality of the administration’s measures is examined.