The ruling, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals, halts Trump-era plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from the three countries—protections that allowed them to live and work legally in the United States due to natural disasters and civil unrest in their home nations.
The court emphasized that the decision to strip TPS from these groups appeared to be politically motivated and lacked proper legal justification. The panel ruled that the administration failed to consider the humanitarian consequences and procedural safeguards required by law.
Immigration advocates and civil rights organizations hailed the ruling as a victory for fairness and human dignity. “This is a lifeline for over 300,000 immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for decades, built families, paid taxes, and contributed to communities,” said a spokesperson from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The Trump administration had aggressively pursued changes to immigration policy throughout its tenure, seeking to tighten borders and reduce legal immigration. The decision to terminate TPS for these countries was part of a broader push to roll back humanitarian protections established in previous administrations.
This latest court decision not only shields TPS holders from imminent deportation but also underscores the judiciary's role in checking executive power on immigration matters. The Biden administration, while expressing support for TPS holders, has yet to announce a formal permanent pathway to citizenship for affected individuals.
As legal battles continue, TPS holders from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua can remain in the U.S. without fear of removal—for now.