DHS Announces Termination for TPS for Hondurans and Nicaraguans

On July 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals will officially end on September 6, 2025. This means the work and deportation protections granted in 1999, after Hurricane Mitch, will expire in about two months.

What Is TPS?

• TPS is temporary relief allowing people to live and work in the U.S. when their home country is facing disaster, conflict, or unsafe conditions.
• It’s not a path to citizenship—but it does stop deportation and provides legal work authorization.
• TPS must be reviewed and renewed periodically by DHS.

Who Is Affected?

• Around 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans currently holding TPS will lose their status starting September 6, 2025.
• After that date, they can no longer work legally or be protected from deportation—unless they qualify for another status.

Why Is This Happening?

• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem concluded that conditions in Honduras and Nicaragua have improved, citing growth in tourism, foreign investment, and other indicators.
• This move is part of a broader policy to limit the TPS program, which previously protected hundreds of thousands of people from various countries.

What It Means for People With TPS from Honduras and Nicaragua

1. Employment 
   Your work permit will not renew after September 6, so you’ll need another legal way to stay and work.
2. Deportation Risk 
   Once TPS ends, you’re no longer protected from removal—but DHS may or may not begin immediate enforcement .
3. Other Rights Lost
   You could lose access to certain benefits and state/federal IDs, if your eligibility for those things was based on your TPS status.

Action Steps: What You Can Do Now:

• Talk to an immigration attorney ASAP to assess whether you’re eligible for another path to stay in the U.S.—like applying for a green card based on family, employment, or possibly asylum.
• If you have U.S. citizen children, some may be able to petition for your permanent residency, though rules are strict and age-based
• Stay informed about ongoing legal challenges—lawsuits filed by advocacy groups may delay or block part of this termination.
• If no legal options apply, prepare to potentially leave the U.S. DHS is encouraging Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals with TPS to use the CBP Home app to request airfare and a resettlement stipend, and to report their departure from the U.S.

Why Legal Advice Matters

• Timing is critical. With just two months until September 6, there’s little time to explore other statuses or file new applications.
• Each case is unique. Eligibility for green cards, hardship waivers, or humanitarian relief can vary depending on your personal situation.
• Avoid unintended consequences. A status lapse can lead to bans on re-entry or make you ineligible for certain future options.

Final Thoughts

TPS was designed as a temporary fix, but many beneficiaries have called the U.S. home for decades. We hope a lawsuit will stop or at least pause the cancellation of TPS, and we will continue to inform you of any developments in this case. What matters most now is taking concrete, timely action. Reach out to an immigration attorney, know your options, and start planning for what comes next.