TPS Status Temporarily Extended for Nepal and Honduras

The Department of Homeland Security announced on March 13, 2019 that is will temporarily halt its plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepal and Honduras. TPS for Nepal was originally set to be terminated on June 24, 2019 and Honduras on January 5, 2020. TPS is granted to certain groups of people in the wake of natural disasters, wars, outbreaks of disease, and other catastrophes that would make it difficult for them to return safely to their home countries. Government officials periodically review the program to decide whether to extend it, and most groups have received regular extensions in the past.

The termination of TPS for these countries was challenged in the courts in Ramos et al. v. Nielsen et al. As a result, this decision was made in recognition of the similarities between this challenge and that that of the October 2018 injunction issued by a District Court judge against the termination of TPS for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan Nationals. The District Court judge then ruled that the government has failed to establish any if harm if “the status quo is maintained during the pendency of this litigation”. The Judge also found substantial evidence that the administration lacked “any explanation or justification” to end the “temporary protected status” designations for immigrants from those countries.

DHS is expected to issue guidance soon regarding the extension of status, work permits, and travel permits. Official guidance, including application deadlines and status and work authorization extension dates, will be published in the Federal Register 45 days prior to each affected country’s scheduled termination date.