A Culver City woman is among Venezuelans with temporary legal protections who are suing the Trump administration over its attempt to strip hundreds of thousands of migrants of lawful immigration status by April 7, according to court papers obtained Thursday.
The complaint was filed Wednesday in San Francisco with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by the National TPS Alliance and seven Venezuelans.
The lawsuit accuses Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of illegally revoking an 18-month extension of temporary protected status for Venezuelans that was granted by the Biden administration. Noem’s reversal means 350,000 Venezuelans will lose TPS on April 7 and another 250,000 are expected to lose TPS in September 2025, instead of retaining protection through October 2026, according to the National TPS Alliance.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment from City News Service.
The named plaintiffs include Hendrina Vivas Castillo, 49, who lives in Culver City and works as a food delivery driver. She said she is “terrified” of going back to Venezuela and does not know what she will do if her TPS is terminated, according to the lawsuit.
“TPS holders are mothers, fathers, workers and contributing members of our community,” Jose Palma, co-coordinator of the National TPS Alliance, a member-led organization of tens of thousands of TPS holders from across the country, said in a statement.
“We reject the Trump administration’s racist and inaccurate portrayal of Venezuelan TPS holders. Venezuelan TPS holders, like all TPS holders, are lawfully present here pursuant to protection granted because it is not safe for them to return to their country right now. Illegally rescinding their lawful status is cruel and harmful for both TPS holders and our communities.”
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