California Attorney General Rob Bonta has co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the case of National TPS Alliance v. Noem. The brief challenges the early termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, currently before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Attorney General Bonta stated, "We are filing an amicus brief to help stop the unlawful early termination of the Venezuela TPS designation. The Trump Administration’s attack on TPS is an attack on vulnerable individuals who are fleeing a humanitarian crisis, in search of safety and a better life for their families."
California is home to over 72,000 TPS beneficiaries, ranking fourth among states. Bonta emphasized that these individuals contribute significantly to California's economy and communities: "In California alone, TPS households earned $2.1 billion in income, paid $291.2 million in federal taxes, and paid $226.5 million in state and local taxes."
The termination of TPS for Venezuelans could force families into difficult situations: returning to Venezuela without their children, taking children to an unfamiliar and dangerous country, or staying illegally in the United States with no work authorization.
The coalition argues that terminating Venezuelan TPS would result in irreparable harm to families and negatively impact states' economies and public health systems. They urge the court to prevent this order from going into effect.
Attorney General Bonta co-led this effort with New York's Attorney General, supported by attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State as well as the District of Columbia.
A copy of the brief is available for public access.