Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Move to End TPS for Migrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua

On December 31, 2025, a federal judge in San Francisco, Trina L. Thompson, issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration's attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 89,000 migrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The judge's decision came in response to claims that the administration's actions were driven by racial hostility and failed to consider the dire conditions in these countries that would endanger the migrants if they were deported.

UsNews and World ReportNew York Times

The TPS program provides deportation relief and work permits to individuals from countries experiencing significant crises, such as natural disasters or armed conflict. The program currently protects around 72,000 Hondurans, 13,000 Nepalese, and 4,000 Nicaraguans. Under the program, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has the authority to grant, extend, or terminate TPS designations. The Trump administration has sought to limit TPS as part of a broader immigration restriction strategy.

UsNews and World ReportNew York Times

Judge Thompson's ruling criticized the administration's review process, stating that it was predetermined and failed to adequately address critical issues such as food insecurity in Nepal, crime in Honduras, and humanitarian crises in Nicaragua. The judge noted that the administration's termination notices suggested that allowing these migrants to remain in the U.S. was contrary to national interests, a stance that the court found lacking in justification.

New York Times

The National TPS Alliance, which represents TPS enrollees, argued that the terminations were motivated by racial animus. Judge Thompson supported this claim, citing statements from President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem that portrayed migrants as criminals and a burden on society. The ruling highlighted the discriminatory implications of these statements, suggesting they perpetuated harmful stereotypes about immigrant populations.

UsNews and World Report

In response to the ruling, the National TPS Alliance expressed relief but also noted the harm already inflicted by the cancellations. One plaintiff, Jhony Silva, a 30-year-old Honduran who has lived in the U.S. since childhood, reported losing his job as a certified nursing assistant due to the uncertainty surrounding TPS.

New York Times

While this ruling represents a significant setback for the Trump administration's immigration policies, it is part of a broader legal landscape where lower courts have frequently ruled against attempts to terminate TPS for various groups. The Supreme Court previously allowed the administration to proceed with ending TPS for around 300,000 Venezuelans, indicating that the future of TPS remains uncertain as further legal challenges are anticipated.

UsNews and World Report

“These statements reflect a stereotyping of the immigrants protected under the TPS program as criminal invaders and perpetuate the discriminatory belief that certain immigrant populations will replace the white population,” — Judge Trina L. Thompson

New York Times

“We are having trouble retrieving the article content.” — Jhony Silva, TPS holder

New York Times