On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, a federal appeals court handed the Trump administration a significant victory, clearing the way for the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 60,000 migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal. The ruling, which overturned a previous order by a San Francisco-based district judge, has left tens of thousands of families facing an uncertain future in the United States.
The three-member panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, comprised of judges appointed by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, issued a brief, two-page decision granting the government’s motion to proceed with ending TPS. Notably, the panel did not provide an explanation for its unanimous ruling. According to Reuters, this decision directly impacts migrants who have long relied on TPS for legal status and work authorization in the U.S., following catastrophic events in their home countries.
TPS was originally established to offer temporary deportation relief and work permits to individuals from nations devastated by war or natural disasters. Hondurans and Nicaraguans became eligible after Hurricane Mitch struck in 1998, killing nearly 7,300 people and causing widespread devastation. Nepalese migrants were granted TPS in June 2015 after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake claimed more than 7,000 lives and left the country in ruins, as reported by AP.
For over two decades, many of these migrants have built lives in the United States, raising families, starting businesses, and contributing to their communities. "The Trump administration is systematically de-documenting immigrants who have lived lawfully in this country for decades, raising U.S.-citizen children, starting businesses, and contributing to their communities," attorney Jessica Bansal told AP in a statement. The emotional weight of the decision is palpable for many who now face the prospect of leaving the only home their children have ever known.
The path to this ruling has been contentious. In July 2025, District Judge Trina Thompson, an appointee of President Joe Biden, issued an order pausing the planned elimination of TPS until November 18, 2025, accusing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of being "motivated by racial animus" in her controversial opinion. Judge Thompson’s order drew a striking comparison between the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. "The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream. That is all Plaintiffs seek," she wrote. "Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood. The Court disagrees." But on Wednesday, the appeals court panel overturned Thompson’s order, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with its plans.
Earlier this year, Secretary Noem announced the revocation of TPS protections and offered a plane ticket and a $1,000 "exit bonus" to migrants willing to self-deport immediately. "Temporary Protected Status was designed to be just that — temporary," Noem said, emphasizing that the program was never intended to provide a pathway to permanent residency. According to CBS News, about 51,000 Hondurans, 7,200 Nepalese, and 2,900 Nicaraguans are currently enrolled in TPS without permanent green-card status.
Noem and the Department of Homeland Security have argued that the original reasons for granting TPS—namely, the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch and the Nepal earthquake—no longer apply, as the affected countries have sufficiently recovered. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, "TPS was never meant to be a de-facto asylum program," and maintained that previous administrations had stretched the program beyond its intended scope.
For many TPS holders, the looming deadlines are fast approaching. Protections for Nepalese migrants are set to expire on August 5, 2025, while Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS recipients will lose their status on September 8, 2025. The Trump administration’s move is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration policy, having previously ended TPS for over one million immigrants from other nations, according to AP.
Immigrant rights advocates and affected families argue that the decision ignores the realities on the ground in their home countries. Judge Thompson, in her July ruling, criticized the administration for failing to conduct an "objective review" of conditions in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal. Many TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for decades, with deep roots in their communities. As attorney Jessica Bansal pointed out to AP, these individuals have "lived lawfully in this country for decades, raising U.S.-citizen children, starting businesses, and contributing to their communities."
The reaction from Central American officials has been one of disappointment and concern. Honduras Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres described the court’s decision as "unfortunate" and expressed hope that his government could buy time for Hondurans with temporary status to find legal alternatives to remain in the U.S. "We’re going to wait to see what the National TPS Alliance decides. It’s possible the case could be elevated to the United States Supreme Court, but we have to wait," Torres told AP.
The decision has also reignited debate over the purpose and limits of TPS. While supporters argue that the program is a vital humanitarian tool, critics contend that it has been used as a backdoor to permanent residency for people who were only supposed to remain temporarily. As DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin put it, "TPS was never meant to be a de-facto asylum program," echoing a longstanding position among immigration hardliners.
For those affected, the future remains deeply uncertain. Many TPS holders face the prospect of returning to countries that, while officially deemed "recovered," still struggle with economic instability, violence, and limited opportunities. The offer of a plane ticket and a $1,000 "exit bonus" has done little to ease anxieties. As one can imagine, uprooting families, shuttering businesses, and leaving behind communities is not a decision made lightly.
Legal experts say the case could still reach the U.S. Supreme Court, especially given its broad implications for immigration policy and executive authority. In the meantime, advocacy groups and legal teams are working to identify possible paths forward for those at risk of losing their protected status. The National TPS Alliance and other organizations continue to press for legislative solutions that would allow long-term TPS holders to adjust their status and remain in the country legally.
As the expiration dates for TPS protections draw near, the fate of tens of thousands of migrants hangs in the balance. The court’s decision has brought the debate over immigration policy, humanitarian relief, and the rule of law back to the forefront of American political discourse. For now, families from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal must wait and hope for a resolution that offers them the security and opportunity they have sought for so many years.
