Court temporarily blocked the government from stripping immigrants of work permits under new rules

A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked part of new USCIS rules that could have caused tens of thousands of asylum seekers and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to lose their right to work in the United States.

The rules are connected to new immigration fees and restrictions adopted by Congress in 2025. The plaintiffs argued that USCIS began applying these rules unlawfully: without proper notice, without an opportunity for public comments, and retroactively for some TPS holders.

It is especially important that thousands of people with TPS from El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine could have been at risk. According to Reuters, some of them could have lost their right to work as early as Wednesday.

The court has not blocked USCIS from collecting the Annual Asylum Fee. But the judge ruled that USCIS cannot strip people of work authorization or impose other penalties solely because of nonpayment of that fee while the dispute is being considered in court.

What this means in practice

This is a temporary victory for asylum seekers and people with TPS. While the court order remains in effect, USCIS cannot automatically strip them of work permits under these new rules.

But this is not a final decision in the case. The judge must separately decide whether to issue a longer pause on the policy. A decision is expected by August 5.

Bottom line: the new work permit restrictions are partially blocked for now. For people with TPS and pending asylum, this is an important pause, but the situation remains temporary and may change after the next court decision.

Source: Reuters.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Translations are provided for convenience and may contain errors or omissions. For guidance on your specific situation, always consult official sources or a qualified attorney.