New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of 17 attorneys general, has taken steps to defend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans. This program, established by Congress in 1990, aims to protect individuals from being returned to countries deemed unsafe due to conditions such as armed conflict or environmental disasters. TPS also allows eligible recipients to work legally in the United States.
The coalition filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. They support plaintiffs challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to terminate TPS for Venezuelan nationals residing in the United States. The attorneys general are urging the court to delay what they consider an unlawful early termination of TPS for Venezuela.
Attorney General James stated, "By eliminating TPS protections for Venezuelans, the administration is disregarding our fundamental American values and cruelly putting vulnerable families at risk." She emphasized that the TPS program provides refuge and stability for those seeking safety.
As of January 2025, over 600,000 Venezuelans live in the United States under TPS status. Additionally, more than 130,000 American citizens reside in mixed-status households with these individuals. Terminating TPS would force families into difficult decisions: returning alone to their country of origin, taking family members—including American citizens—to a dangerous country they do not know, or remaining in the U.S. without legal work authorization.
New York is home to approximately 56,800 TPS holders who significantly contribute to its economy. In 2023 alone, New York's TPS households earned $2.3 billion and paid substantial taxes while contributing $1.6 billion in spending power.
The coalition argues that ending TPS for Venezuelans will cause irreparable harm by stripping work authorization and exposing families to deportation threats. It could negatively impact state economies and increase healthcare costs while posing risks to public health and safety across jurisdictions.
Alongside Attorney General James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Washington and the District of Columbia joined this effort.