A peek at the fate of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduran Immigrants
Thousands face imminent danger as Trump revokes their Temporary Protected Status, with time rapidly expiring
Steve Inskeep, HOST:
Waves are crashing on the shores of uncertain futures for thousands of immigrants in the US, as the Trump administration is keeping its word on ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for several countries. Among them are Hondurans, whose status expires on July 5, 2025 - for now.
Informal and straightforward style maintained
Let's dive into the story of Brajan Funes and his family. Brajan's parents ventured to the United States in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch left them homeless back in Honduras.
Brajan, who joined them in 2000 at the tender age of 4, is now one of over a million immigrants who rely on TPS to live in the US. Established in 1990, TPS is a humanitarian designation meant for countries grappling with war, natural disasters, or other catastrophes. It grants beneficiaries protection from deportation and provides work permits.
Caught in the limbo of renewing their TPS, these immigrants have managed to forge deep roots. Brajan works at a bank and runs a soccer league in Winston-Salem, uniting immigrants and friends in a powerful bond.
Brajan expressed the bittersweet emotion of being an immigrant, longing to be buried on the land he's called home for nearly two decades. "It's nerve-racking," he admitted. If his status expires, he'll lose his job and be uncertain about his future options.
Clarifying details of TPS program added
Helen Parsonage, an immigration attorney, has noticed an uptick in calls from TPS holders in recent months. TPS may offer a pause from deportation, but it doesn't offer a path to citizenship or permanent residency, better known as a green card. This has led to a number of challenges and concerns as the fate of TPS designations hangs in the balance.
In February, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem terminated TPS for over 300,000 Venezuelans, spurring legal challenges. For now, however, Hondurans continue to hold onto their TPS status, pending future decisions from US officials.
As the clock ticks down to July 5, 2025, Brajan can't help but channel the words of Princess Leia, hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Restructured paragraphs for clarity
For NPR News, I'm Abe Levine in Winston-Salem.
Note: Due to length constraints, only a small portion of the enrichment data was incorporated.
Sources:[1] USCIS, TPS for Honduras [Updated November 18, 2021]. (https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/honduras)[2] Department of Homeland Security, Temporary Protected Status. (https://www.dhs.gov/tps)[3] Migration Policy Institute, TPS for Honduras - at a glance. (https://www.migrationpolicy.org/program/temporary-protected-status-international-operations/tps-honduras)[4] Center for Migration Studies, TPS for Honduras: Designation History, Legal Challenges and Reports. (https://cmsny.org/tpshonduras/)[5] American Immigration Council, Temporary Protected Status (TPS). (https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/understanding-us-immigration/temporary-protected-status-tps)
- With Brajan's work at a bank and soccer league, he has built strong connections within his community, making him one of the many TPS holders who have established deep roots in the United States.
- Despite the TPS program providing protection from deportation and work permits, it does not offer a path to citizenship or permanent residency, creating numerous challenges for immigrants like Brajan as they grapple with the fate of their TPS designations.
- As Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has ended TPS for over 300,000 Venezuelans, sparking legal challenges, Hondurans continue to hold onto their TPS status, awaiting future decisions from US officials that may impact not only them but also the broader transportation, politics, and general-news landscape, considering the significant roles immigrants play in various sectors of the nation.
