U.S. Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to End TPS for Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua Migrants

A U.S. appeals court in California on Monday temporarily lifted a federal judge’s order that had blocked the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 89,000 migrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua. The decision marks a significant development in ongoing legal battles over U.S. immigration policy and deportation protections.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal government is likely to prove it had legitimate reasons for terminating TPS for the three countries. As a result, the court paused a lower court ruling that had prevented the administration from moving forward with the policy while the appeal is under review. This means the Trump administration can proceed, at least temporarily, with plans to end deportation protections and work permits for affected migrants.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem welcomed the decision, stating on social media that TPS was never intended to function as a permanent immigration solution. She argued that conditions in Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua have improved sufficiently to justify ending the protections, reinforcing the administration’s position that TPS designations should remain temporary.

Temporary Protected Status allows migrants already living in the United States to remain legally and obtain work authorization if their home countries face armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances. The Trump administration has sought to roll back TPS designations as part of a broader effort to restrict immigration and tighten enforcement.

In December, U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson in San Francisco blocked the termination of TPS for migrants from the three countries, citing concerns that the administration failed to properly assess current conditions that could make returns unsafe. She also suggested the policy changes may have been influenced by racial bias, referencing statements from Trump and Noem portraying immigrants negatively.

However, the unanimous three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit indicated that the TPS terminations may not be subject to judicial review. The judges also found that the government could likely demonstrate that country conditions were adequately considered before ending TPS. The panel included judges appointed by Presidents Donald Trump, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Advocacy groups representing TPS holders, including the National TPS Alliance, had not immediately responded to the ruling. The case continues to carry major implications for thousands of migrants and the future of Temporary Protected Status in the United States.