A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 60,000 migrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua.
Created by Congress in 1990, TPS allows nationals of countries affected by war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States on a temporary basis. To qualify, applicants must already be in the country and pass background checks conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In July, the Trump administration announced plans to end TPS designations for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, arguing that the conditions that initially justified the protections had improved. On Wednesday, however, U.S. District Court Judge Trina Thompson blocked the move in a 52-page ruling, finding the administration’s action unlawful.
In a statement to Newsweek, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the decision, accusing the judiciary of overstepping its authority with what she called “yet another lawless and activist order.”
Why It Matters
Immigration has been a central focus of President Trump’s second term. He has pledged to tighten border security, carry out large-scale deportations, and end federal benefits for people who enter the country illegally. The ruling presents a setback to those efforts and raises questions about the scope of presidential power over immigration policy.
What to Know
Honduras and Nicaragua were granted TPS in the late 1990s after Hurricane Mitch devastated both countries. Nepal received its designation in 2015 following a deadly earthquake.
Judge Thompson, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, had previously delayed the termination of TPS for these countries. An appeals court paused that decision in August, temporarily allowing the administration to proceed. Wednesday’s ruling reverses that outcome.
According to the Congressional Research Service, as cited by The New York Times, TPS currently covers about 50,000 Hondurans, 7,000 Nepalis, and 3,000 Nicaraguans.
The decision comes amid broader legal challenges to changes in TPS policy. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts blocked the federal government from deporting South Sudanese nationals who hold or have applied for TPS. That program was scheduled to expire on January 6, 2026.
What People Are Saying
In her ruling, Judge Thompson wrote that the law should protect those whose voices are often overlooked, emphasizing the responsibility of public officials to recognize and address injustice experienced by communities that call the United States home.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded by defending the administration’s position, saying TPS was never intended to be permanent and accusing prior administrations of using it as a form of long-term amnesty. She argued that conditions in the affected countries have improved enough to justify ending the protections.
What Happens Next
The Trump administration continues to challenge TPS designations for other countries as part of its broader immigration crackdown, signaling that further legal battles are likely.
