Donald Trump has suffered a major legal setback after a U.S. federal judge blocked his plan to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 60,000 migrants from countries like Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. This court decision will allow these migrants to stay and continue working legally in the United States while the case continues.
TPS is a program that gives immigrants legal protection when their home countries are too dangerous to return to, often due to natural disasters or political unrest. But Trump’s team wanted to end TPS for many countries, saying those nations are now safe. His administration has already tried to cancel TPS for more than 1 million people, including those from Haiti, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.
The judge, Trina L. Thompson, ruled that the Trump administration failed to properly review conditions in those countries. She said the team did not consider recent political violence or new disasters. For example, Nicaragua faced Tropical Storm Sara in 2024, which displaced thousands. Meanwhile, many people are fleeing from political repression under Nicaragua’s leaders.
In Nepal, natural disasters during the 2024 and 2025 monsoon seasons killed over 30 people and caused damage to thousands of homes. In Honduras, violent attacks against journalists and activists have increased sharply in 2025. Rights like freedom of movement are still limited in many areas.
Judge Thompson said ending TPS would force many people to lose their jobs, health insurance, and families, and could harm the U.S. economy by around $1.4 billion. She also said that statements from Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem showed bias, suggesting the decision was influenced by racial prejudice.
The National TPS Alliance, which brought the lawsuit, argued that Trump’s efforts were part of his promise to carry out the largest deportation plan in U.S. history. The judge agreed, saying that many of the statements made by Trump and his team were based on a belief that immigrants of colour were a threat to white Americans.
Officials in Honduras welcomed the ruling. Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García said the decision gives migrants more time and hope. “They just want to work and live in peace,” he said, adding that a similar court fight during Trump’s first term lasted five years.
While the Department of Homeland Security says TPS was never meant to last forever, critics say many migrants have lived in the U.S. for decades, built families, and now have nowhere safe to return.
Judge Thompson wrote powerfully that migrants “are told to atone for their race” and added, “Colour is neither a poison nor a crime.”
The protections remain in place for now. The next hearing in the case will be held on November 18. Until then, migrants from these countries can continue living and working legally in the United States.