TPS Terminated for Nepal and Honduras

There have been important recent developments for citizens of Honduras and Nepal: Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen has announced her decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for both countries with delayed effective dates.  If you are currently in TPS status, you should consult with an attorney for alternative immigration options.  

Current TPS registrants will be required to re-register for TPS and apply for Employment Authorization Documents in order to legally work in the United States until the termination becomes effective. Further details about this termination for TPS, including the re-registration period, will come at a later date. TPS beneficiaries should not submit re-registration applications until the re-registration period is announced through official channels.

Honduras, Termination Date January 5, 2020

The termination for Honduras comes with a delayed effective date of 18 months to allow for an orderly transition before the designation terminates on Jan. 5, 2020. The decision to terminate was made after a review of the environmental disaster-related conditions still in existence in Honduras resulting from Hurricane Mitch in 1998.  The Secretary believes that conditions have improved to such a degree that Honduras can effectively manage the return of its citizens.  An estimated 60,000 currently have TPS status.

Nepal, Termination Date June 24, 2019

The Secretary also announced her decision to terminate TPS designation for Nepal.  The delayed effective date is June 24, 2019.  It is estimated that 9,000 individuals from Nepal currently benefit from TPS.

The decision to terminate TPS for Nepal was made after the Secretary determined that the disruption of living conditions in Nepal from the April 2015 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that served as the basis for its TPS designation have decreased to a degree that they should no longer be regarded as substantial.  The Agency expects that Nepal can now adequately manage the return of its nationals since the country has made substantial progress in post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction.