Boston judge blocks Trump rule revoking work permits

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy that would have revoked work permits for tens of thousands of asylum seekers and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton on July 21, 2026, prevents the policy from taking effect while a legal challenge proceeds.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a coalition of immigrant rights groups and labor unions, represented by the legal group Democracy Forward. They challenged a series of new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies designed to implement immigration restrictions passed by Congress in July 2025. Those restrictions were part of a signature tax and spending law championed by President Donald Trump.

The contested policies include a new requirement for an annual asylum application fee and provisions that restrict employment authorization for TPS holders. The plaintiffs argued that USCIS implemented these changes without providing the required public notice and comment period. They also challenged the retroactive application of the new rules to TPS holders from El Salvador, Sudan, and...