Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, he has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for many countries. Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua are the latest group of countries whose U.S.-based citizens have been stripped of temporary protections that shielded them from deportation and allowed them to live and work in the United States.
The action, effective early September, will end TPS for about 500,000 Haitians, 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans.
TPS for Haitians terminated
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Haiti’s TPS designation and related benefits will terminate on September 2, 2025. In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said conditions in Haiti would now allow people to return but did not explain what exactly had changed to lessen the risk.
“The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home,” the spokesperson said.
The Department first designated Haiti for TPS status in 2010, after
Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The Department subsequently extended this designation and redesignated Haiti for TPS status multiple times based on continuing harms from the earthquake, gang violence, political unrest and corruption. The most recent designation was done in July 2024 and was to run through February 3, 2026.
TPS for Nicaraguans terminated
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem announced earlier this month, the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, which will take effect September 8, 2025, 60 days after the publication of the Federal Register notice.
“Temporary Protected Status was never meant to last a quarter of a century,” said a DHS Spokesperson. “The impacts of a natural disaster impacting Nicaragua in 1999 no longer exist. The environmental situation has improved enough that it is safe enough for Nicaraguan citizens to return home. This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that TPS remains temporary.”
Nicaragua was designated for TPS for the first time over 25 years ago at the request of the Nicaraguan government due to an environmental disaster, and was extended 13 consecutive times since its initial designation in 1999. The latest extension began January 6, 2024, and ended July 5, 2025.
TPS for Hondurans terminated
The termination of TPS for Hondurans was announced the same day as Nicaraguans and also ends officially on September 8, 2025. Honduras was initially designated on January 5, 1999, on the basis of an environmental disaster that disrupted the living conditions of its citizens. The designation had continuously been extended until the Trump administration decided that the conditions in Honduras no longer met the TPS statutory requirements. The latest redesignation began on January 6, 2024, and expired July 5, 2025.
“Temporary Protected Status was designed to be just that—temporary,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “It is clear that the Government of Honduras has taken all of the necessary steps to overcome the impacts of Hurricane Mitch, almost 27 years ago. Honduras has made significant progress recovering from the hurricane’s destruction and is now a popular tourism and real estate investment destination, Honduran citizens can safely return home, and DHS is here to help facilitate their voluntary return. Honduras has been a wonderful partner of the Trump Administration, helping us deliver on key promises to the American people. We look forward to continuing our work with them.”
Are more TPS terminations to follow?
Immigrants from 17 countries, including Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua were receiving TPS protections before President Donald Trump took office for his second term in January. Ever since, he has moved to end TPS for Venezuela, Nepal, Afghanistan, Cameroon and now, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua.
During his first term as president from 2017-2021, Trump sought to end most TPS enrollment, including the designations covering Honduras and Nicaragua, but his attempts were blocked by federal courts as unlawful. Now that he’s back in office, he’s doing the exact same thing and his administration is working tirelessly towards what the president has promised will be the largest deportation in U.S. history.
So, by dismantling TPS programs, he is expanding the pool of those eligible to be arrested and deported by federal immigration authorities. Hence, the fate of the other countries that are still under active TPS designation remains uncertain, but they should be prepared for similar terminations based on the administration’s actions thus far.
Moreover, the Supreme Court ruled on May 19 that the Trump administration could proceed with ending TPS for Venezuelans, signaling that other terminations may also be permitted to move forward.
Why is Trump terminating TPS?
President Trump has for years criticized the TPS program, which is intended to protect migrants from deportation if their home countries are facing natural disasters or conflict. The government periodically reviews the status but it can be renewed without limit, with the effect of giving migrants the ability to stay for an indefinite period.
President Trump is ending protections and programs for immigrants as part of his mass deportations promises. During his political campaign, he said his administration would scale back the use of TPS, which covered more than 1 million immigrants.
Also, his terminations are in line with his day-one executive order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” in which President Trump ordered his administration to review TPS designations and ensure they are appropriately limited in scope and made for only so long as may be necessary to fulfill the textual requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Has Trump’s decision to terminate TPS been challenged in court?
As a matter of fact, yes. There are several lawsuits challenging the validity of these TPS terminations pending in court.
Federal courts have blocked the Trump administration’s previous efforts to end the program. Just recently, a federal court judge in Brooklyn blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end temporary protected status for Haitian migrants ahead of schedule, ruling that the Department of Homeland Security violated the law in its rush to strip deportation protections and work permits from over half a million people.
In a decision issued Tuesday, US District Judge Brian Cogan said Noem failed to follow the timeline and procedures mandated by Congress, including a review of current conditions in Haiti before ending TPS.
The Biden administration had extended those protections for Haitians through Feb. 3, 2026. Judge Cogan wrote that Ms. Noem would have to wait until then to decide not to renew the protections for Haitians according to what he called “the statutorily prescribed procedures Congress has enacted.”
Also, in March, a federal judge blocked cutting TPS for Venezuelans, but that ruling was paused by the Supreme Court in late May, although litigation continues through the ninth circuit court of appeals, with oral arguments scheduled for this month.
An appeals court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking deportation protections and work permits for thousands of people from Afghanistan.
And just last week, seven immigrants filed a lawsuit in San Francisco challenging the Trump administration’s decision to terminate TPS for people from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua, claiming the move was unlawful and dangerously rushed. The suit is set for hearing next month.
It can be said that more lawsuits will follow.
What now for Nicaraguans and Honduras?
The Department has encouraged Nicaraguan and Honduran nationals departing the United States to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure from the U.S. and take advantage of a safe, secure way to self-deport which includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential future opportunities for legal immigration.
While TPS offers temporary benefits and does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status, it does not preclude beneficiaries from applying for nonimmigrant status, filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition, or applying for any other immigration benefit or protection for which they may be eligible.
Additionally, not all TPS holders will be required to leave. Currently, roughly 21,000 Hondurans and 1,100 Nicaraguans have also obtained permanent resident cards, known as green cards.
Nevertheless, the termination of TPS designation for Honduras and Nicaraguans is a huge blow, one that will no doubt be felt throughout immigrant communities and advocacy organizations. While DHS maintains that the decision aligns with U.S. law and evolving conditions in these countries, it also marks a period of uncertainty for many.
As the September 2025 deadline approaches, it’s vital for affected individuals to proactively seek clarity, consult an immigration attorney, and prepare for the next chapter—whether that be in the United States or back home.
Contact us at The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki and we will take care of the rest. Call us on 516-963-6672 or fill out this form to schedule your appointment with one of our expert-immigration attorneys.
We will continue to monitor changes and provide updates, as needed.
