Federal Judge Postpones Termination of TPS for Central American and Nepali Immigrants

August 02, 2025 — SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson in San Francisco, postpones the terminations until at least November 18, 2025, while a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision proceeds.

The decision is a significant, albeit temporary, victory for immigrant advocates and the over 60,000 individuals whose legal status was set to expire within the next two months. The Trump administration, through Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, had ordered the end of TPS for these countries, arguing that conditions in their homelands no longer warranted the humanitarian protection. The terminations were scheduled to take effect as early as August 5 for Nepal and September 6 for Honduras and Nicaragua.

Legal Challenge Cites Racial Animus and Unlawful Process

The lawsuit, filed by the National TPS Alliance and individual TPS holders, argues that the administration’s actions were unlawful and motivated by racial animus. In her strongly-worded order, Judge Thompson agreed that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims. She wrote that the administration ended the protections without conducting an “objective review of the country conditions” and that statements made by President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem “perpetuate the discriminatory belief that certain immigrant populations will replace the white population.”

Judge Thompson’s ruling highlighted the human impact of the policy, noting that the termination would cause thousands to risk job loss, the separation of families, and deportation to countries many have not lived in for decades. She quoted from her own order, stating, “The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream. That is all Plaintiffs seek. Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood.”

Background of the TPS Program

Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program established by Congress in 1990. It allows the Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that prevent their safe return.

Honduras and Nicaragua were first granted TPS in 1999 following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch, while Nepal received the designation in 2015 after a major earthquake. Many of the TPS holders from these countries have been living and working legally in the U.S. for decades, having established deep roots in their communities and contributed to the U.S. economy.

The Department of Justice, representing the government, has argued that the Homeland Security Secretary has the legal authority to end TPS and that the program was never intended to be permanent. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security has previously stated that the decision “restores integrity” to the immigration system.

The ruling does not provide a permanent solution, but it does offer a reprieve, allowing the protected individuals to maintain their legal status and work permits while the case moves forward. The next hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2025.