Federal judge delays expiration of TPS for Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Nepalese

On Thursday, a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued the ruling, delaying the TPS terminations until at least November, when a court hearing will examine the broader legal arguments. This decision affects approximately 60,000 individuals, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for over two decades. TPS protections for Nepalese were set to expire August 5, while those for Nicaraguans and Hondurans were due to end on September 8.

In her strongly worded opinion, Judge Thompson criticized the administration’s motives. “The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream—that is all Plaintiffs seek,” she wrote. “Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood. The Court disagrees.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet responded publicly to the ruling.

TPS is a federal program that allows immigrants from nations suffering from severe conditions—such as natural disasters or conflict—to remain temporarily in the U.S. Hondurans and Nicaraguans first received TPS after Hurricane Mitch in 1999, while Nepalese were added in 2015 following a catastrophic earthquake.

The Trump administration has previously sought to end TPS for several countries, including Haiti and Venezuela, arguing the program was never meant to be long-term. A DHS spokesperson recently stated that ending TPS for Nicaraguans was a step toward restoring the program’s intended purpose, claiming that conditions have improved enough for their safe return.

Despite that, the U.S. State Department has warned its citizens to reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to potential legal risks and limited access to healthcare.

Similarly, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced this month that Honduras has sufficiently recovered from the effects of Hurricane Mitch and that citizens can now return home safely. DHS, she said, would assist in facilitating voluntary returns.

Judge Thompson, however, concluded that the administration’s moves to end TPS lacked objective assessment and were driven by a predetermined agenda. Legal battles over TPS have reached courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Source: NPR