In its most recent attempt to deny advantages to migrants since President Trump took office again, the Trump administration on Monday terminated protections for Honduran and Nicaraguan migrants that protected them from deportation and permitted them to work.
In roughly two months, the Homeland Security Department’s decision to terminate the safeguards granted to migrants from seven nations under the Temporary Protected Status program will take effect. Although some 21,000 Hondurans and 1,100 Nicaraguans have also earned permanent residence cards, or “green cards,” the agency believes that 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans have T.P.S. Since 1999, those nations’ migrants have been protected under T.P.S.
For years, Mr. Trump has attacked the T.P.S. program, which aims to shield migrants from deportation in the event that their home countries are experiencing natural catastrophes or conflict. The status is subject to periodic evaluations by the government, but it can be extended indefinitely, allowing migrants to remain for as long as they like.
According to a statement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Temporary Protected Status was intended to be just that—temporary. It is evident that the Honduran government has done all the required actions to recover from the effects of Hurricane Mitch, which occurred over 27 years ago.
After Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras and Nicaragua in 1998, the protection was initially extended to their citizens.
According to the agency’s federal register notification, Honduras has recovered well from the devastation caused by the hurricane and is now a well-liked travel and real estate investment destination. Honduras has developed a scheme to welcome its citizens back, according to the agency.
Haiti, Venezuela, and Afghanistan are among the nations where the Trump administration has already taken steps to terminate T.P.S.
Proponents of immigration warned the ruling would be disastrous for long-term residents of the United States.
Robyn Barnard, a senior director of refugee advocacy at Human Rights First, stated that this action by the Trump administration will put tens of thousands of people in precarious situations, similar to the decisions made for Afghanistan, Haiti, and Venezuela. Additionally, there will be consequences for communities and employers who have depended on many Hondurans and Nicaraguans who have been living and working in this country for years.
Previous attempts by the Trump administration to terminate the program have been rebuffed by federal courts. A federal court judge prevented its termination for Haitians last week, stating that she lacked the jurisdiction to remove the safeguards before their time. A federal judge also barred Venezuelans from cutting T.P.S. in March, but the Supreme Court halted that decision in late May.