U.S. Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Continue Ending Deportation Protections
A U.S. federal appeals court has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending deportation protections for nearly 89,000 migrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The decision comes after a California judge blocked the policy last December.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government could likely demonstrate “legitimate” reasons for ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for these countries, and paused the lower court’s injunction while the case proceeds through the appeals process.
Background on TPS
TPS is a federal program that grants immigrants relief from deportation and provides work permits when conditions in their home countries — such as natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary events — make it unsafe to return.
In December, U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from terminating TPS for migrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. Judge Thompson said the administration had not adequately considered conditions in the countries and noted that political statements from Noem and former President Trump could indicate racial bias against immigrants.
Appeals Court Decision
The three-judge panel, appointed by presidents Trump, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, said that the terminations might not be subject to court review. The judges also concluded that the administration likely considered the countries’ conditions appropriately before ending TPS for migrants from the three nations.
“Noem emphasized that TPS was never intended to be permanent, but previous administrations effectively used it as an ongoing amnesty program,” said a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security. “Given improvements in the conditions of these countries, the temporary designation is now being concluded.”
Implications
Ending TPS would affect tens of thousands of migrants who currently have legal work authorization and protection from deportation. Advocates for the migrants expressed concern about the potential consequences for families and communities, though attorneys representing TPS recipients did not immediately comment on the appeals court ruling.
The decision underscores the ongoing tension in U.S. immigration policy between temporary relief programs and federal efforts to restrict immigration.
