⚖️ Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Ending Protections for 60,000 Immigrants from Central America and Nepal

8/1/20252 min read

San Francisco | August 1, 2025 — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 60,000 individuals from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua, citing serious concerns about procedural fairness and racial motivations WTOP News+14AP News+14ABC News+14.

🛑 What TPS Means

TPS is a humanitarian program overseen by the Department of Homeland Security that shields people from deportation and grants work authorization if their home countries experience conflict, natural disasters, or instability. Nepal’s TPS designation was set to expire on August 5, while Honduras and Nicaragua protections were to end on September 8 The Guardian+4AP News+4Arab News+4.

🧑‍⚖️ The Court’s Ruling

U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson ruled that the administration ended TPS without conducting an “objective review of country conditions,” such as political violence in Honduras or recovery from storms in Nicaragua. She emphasized that termination could cause widespread harm—loss of work authorization, health care, and family separation—and estimated it would inflict a $1.4 billion economic hit if enacted Arab News+4AP News+4AP News+4.

Thompson condemned the administration’s rhetoric, stating that decisions were influenced by discriminatory views that certain immigrant populations threatened the racial makeup of the U.S. “Color is neither a poison nor a crime,” she wrote American Civil Liberties Union+15Politico+15Arab News+15.

🕰️ What Happens Next

The ruling extends TPS protections through at least November 18, 2025, when the next hearing in the case is scheduled ACLU of Southern California+11AP News+11Politico+11.
The Trump administration has indicated it will appeal the decision PTI News+5San Francisco Chronicle+5aol.com +5.

🧭 Broader Legal Context

This ruling builds on similar judicial interventions. Earlier in the year, the U.S. Supreme Court granted stays on TPS terminations for Venezuelans and Cubans, allowing revocations—but not in cases like this, where independent judicial review remained active Politico+3The Guardian+3San Francisco Chronicle+3.

Legal advocates note that this case continues litigation initiated during Trump’s first term (like Ramos v. Nielsen and Bhattarai v. Nielsen)—efforts that succeeded in blocking TPS removals for thousands ACLU of Southern California+2en.wikipedia.org +2American Civil Liberties Union+2.

👥 Community and International Response

Rights groups welcomed the ruling. A lawyer for the National TPS Alliance described the short notice given for terminations—sometimes just two months—as "awful" en.wikipedia.org +5AP News+5Arab News+5.
The Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister praised the decision, emphasizing its importance in allowing citizens to live and work in peace in the U.S. AP News.
Many of the TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for over 20 years—integrated into local communities, contributing through work and family life.

🧱 Key Takeaways

The court’s decision provides a reprieve for recipients of TPS from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal, preventing their forced departure while the legal case proceeds.
Judge Thompson’s ruling centered on procedural fairness and rejected allegations of racially motivated policy decisions.
The outcome is part of a larger clash between executive immigration policy and judicial checks—highlighting tensions over the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.

🔍 What to Watch

Appeals Status: Will the administration's appeal ultimately reach the Supreme Court?
Policy Precedents: If upheld, could this decision protect TPS holders from other countries similarly facing terminations?
Local Impacts: TPS termination would affect industries—like agriculture, construction, and healthcare—where many recipients have worked for decades.

A federal judge in San Francisco has halted the Trump administration’s efforts to end TPS protections for 60,000 immigrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua—citing legal and constitutional concerns. The status remains in force until at least November 18, 2025, pending further legal review. The case underscores broader debates over executive power, race, and immigration policy in the United States.