Statue of Liberty in New York City. SAN MIGUEL, El Salvador — Nearly 76,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans living legally in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) could soon face deportation, following a decision by the Trump administration to end the decades-old safeguard.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the TPS designation for both Honduras and Nicaragua, citing improved conditions since Hurricane Mitch devastated Central America in 1998.
The hurricane, one of the deadliest in Atlantic history, killed more than 11,300 people, including nearly 7,000 in Honduras and about 4,000 in Nicaragua.
According to a preliminary document released Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the decision will take effect 60 days after the rule is officially published in the Federal Register, which is expected Tuesday.
DHS officials argued that both countries “no longer meet the criteria for TPS designation,” pointing to developments in tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy as evidence of recovery.
The decision will affect approximately 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans, many of whom have been residing in the U.S. since the late 1990s.
SEE ALSO: The U.S. Extends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans Until September 2026
Florida is expected to be particularly affected; a congressional report noted that one in three TPS holders in the U.S. resides in the state.
The decision follows a pattern of rollbacks under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Less than two weeks ago, the administration moved to revoke TPS for over 520,000 Haitians—a move temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled in May that the administration could end protections for more than 350,000 Venezuelans.
Trump has long sought to end TPS protections for immigrants from several countries, including El Salvador, Haiti, Nepal, and Sudan. Immigration advocates warn that other communities may face similar decisions in the near future.
SEE ALSO: Latin America: Who wins and who loses after Trump’s victory?
