Federal Court Temporarily Halts Trump TPS Terminations
Yesterday, a federal district court entered a nationwide order stopping the Trump Administration’s recent decisions to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 300,000 immigrants in the United States from Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sudan. This order is temporary and only offers protection from deportation for the TPS beneficiaries until the federal case challenging TPS termination is decided.
Given that the Trump Administration announced TPS termination for Honduras and Nepal after the federal lawsuit that led to yesterday’s decision was filed, the order halting TPS termination applies only to TPS holders from Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sudan.
TPS is a form of temporary status allowing individuals from certain countries to lawfully remain in the United States when conditions in the designated country prevent citizens and nationals from safely returning or when the country is unable to securely facilitate and handle their return. Country conditions that can lead to TPS designation include an armed conflict or an environmental disaster.
According to the Center for American Progress, New Jersey is home to over 14,000 individuals who now hold TPS—contributing nearly $900 million to New Jersey’s annual GDP. New Jersey’s TPS residents own homes, have mortgages, are employed and pay taxes, have US Citizen children, spouses, and extended families. The ramifications of TPS termination will impact to New Jersey’s taxpayers, employers, families, and economy.
While the federal court decision gives a temporary sigh of relief to many in New Jersey, the continued uncertainty of the future of the TPS program remains of constant concern, with many facing the very real possibility of deportation. Additionally, TPS holders from Honduras and Nepal are facing imminent termination of their status. Given this, New Jersey TPS holders are urged to meet with an immigration attorney to discuss what options are available to remain in the United States.
