NYC unites with alliance to challenge termination of temporary protected status for Honduran, Nepalese, and Nicaraguan immigrants in the city
In a significant move, New York City has joined a coalition of 13 local governments to file an amicus curiae brief in federal court in San Francisco, urging a federal court to block the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua.
The TPS program, designed to protect immigrants from designated countries affected by war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions, has been a lifeline for thousands of individuals who have resided lawfully in the U.S. for many years. For Hondurans and Nicaraguans, this period spans around 26 years, having been granted TPS since 1999 due to Hurricane Mitch. For Nepalis, it's over 10 years, following the 2015 earthquakes.
The brief argues that abruptly ending TPS will cause chaos and undermine the safety and economic well-being of communities. If TPS is terminated for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, thousands of immigrants could lose work authorization and face deportation, affecting an estimated 60,000 TPS holders total.
The termination of TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua was announced by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on July 7, affecting roughly 51,000 and 2,900 immigrants, respectively. TPS for Nepal was terminated earlier on June 6, impacting about 7,200 individuals. Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS holders have been ordered to lose their legal status and work authorization within 60 days of July 8, 2025, while Nepali TPS holders were scheduled to lose their status by August 5, 2025.
The coalition of local governments is supporting a lawsuit brought by the National TPS Alliance and individual TPS holders against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit challenges the decision to terminate TPS for these three nationalities.
Ending TPS could result in widespread family separation, particularly affecting U.S. citizen children whose parents could face deportation. The brief warns that separating families could cause long-term psychological and physical harm to children, including increased risks of anxiety, depression, and other serious health issues.
Moreover, the loss of TPS holders would have significant economic implications. TPS holders contribute significantly to the economy and public life, with the loss of Honduran TPS workers in New York alone estimated to result in an annual reduction of $270.3 million in the state's gross domestic product. In 2021, TPS holders contributed $126 million in state and local taxes in New York City alone.
Ending TPS will also undermine public safety by causing former TPS holders to lose work authorization and be less willing to cooperate with police. This could potentially jeopardize community safety, particularly in sectors where TPS holders have deep roots, such as healthcare, agriculture, and hospitality.
It's important to note that this is not the first legal challenge to TPS terminations. A federal judge in New York recently halted the Trump administration's attempt to cut short TPS protections for Haitians.
The coalition of local governments includes Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Monica, San Francisco, and West Hollywood in California; Boulder County, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; Somerville, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon; and Providence, Rhode Island. New York City is represented in the brief by Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant.
Announcing the termination of TPS for Nicaragua and Honduras, Secretary Noem said the designations were "never meant to last a quarter of a century," claiming that conditions in both countries have improved enough that it is "safe to return home." However, the coalition of local governments and the TPS holders argue that the conditions in these countries are still far from conducive for safe and stable returns.
In summary, the termination of TPS for Hondurans, Nepalis, and Nicaraguans poses a significant threat to thousands of individuals, their families, and their communities. The ongoing legal and political responses aim to block this termination, citing the humanitarian harm and economic impact on families and communities.
- The ongoing policy-and-legislation dispute over Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Hondurans, Nepalis, and Nicaraguans has become a focal point in general-news discussions, with a coalition of 13 local governments filing an amicus curiae brief to support a lawsuit challenging the termination of TPS for these nationalities.
- The politics surrounding the termination of TPS for Hondurans, Nicaraguans, and Nepalis extend beyond the courtroom, affecting not only the legal status and work authorization of affected immigrants but also the economic well-being and public safety of the communities they reside in.
