US Ends Deportation Protections for 76,000 Hondurans, Nicaraguans

The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans, effective September 6, 2025, citing improved conditions in both countries since Hurricane Mitch devastated the region in 1998. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that TPS was intended to be temporary and that both governments have taken necessary steps to recover, enabling safe return of their citizens. The decision is part of President Trump's broader immigration crackdown, which includes ending protections for migrants from other countries like Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Haiti, and aims to deport up to 20 million undocumented immigrants. Immigration advocates and officials in Honduras have condemned the move as cruel and likely to face legal challenges, highlighting the contributions of the affected communities and concerns over forcing return to potentially dangerous conditions. New York state, home to a large population of TPS holders, expressed worries about the impact on immigrant families who now face legal limbo and jeopardy. The administration’s action reflects its commitment to restoring what it calls integrity to the immigration system by ensuring TPS remains a temporary measure.