Over 51,000 Hondurans face possible loss of protected status in the United States.
On Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro reiterated her commitment to supporting immigrants covered by Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States, following a court ruling that permits the Trump administration to terminate the immigration program, reports 24brussels.
“Today more than ever we reaffirm our commitment to Honduran families protected by TPS. This court decision does not erase their contributions nor weaken our conviction: we will continue to support their struggle for stability, dignity, and justice,” Castro stated, also noting that Honduran consulates in the U.S. will provide free initial legal guidance and expedited appointments to assist the Honduran community.
On Wednesday, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California sanctioned the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS, which benefits over 60,000 immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal. This ruling overturned a previous district court order that allowed immigrants to remain under the program, which protects around 51,000 Hondurans and nearly 3,000 Nicaraguans from deportation.
Termination orders issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant beneficiaries only 60 days before they lose their legal status. TPS immigrants had previously sued DHS, alleging that the decision to dismantle the program was motivated by “racial animus.” The implications of the panel’s ruling indicate that Honduran TPS beneficiaries will forfeit their legal status and work authorization by September 8.
Initially granted after Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc in Central America in 1998, TPS was later deemed unnecessary by the Trump administration as it ruled that the conditions justifying humanitarian protection had ceased to exist. The termination of TPS could profoundly affect remittances, crucial for the financial stability of thousands of Honduran families. In 2024, Honduras received nearly US$8 billion in remittances from citizens residing in the United States.
These remittances represent approximately 25% of the nation’s gross domestic product, with over 10% of households reliant on these funds as their primary or sole income source, per data from the Honduran National Institute of Statistics (INE).
