DHS to Terminate TPS for Honduras with 18-Month Delay

At a glance 

Temporary Protected Status for Honduras will be terminated effective January 5, 2020. Honduran TPS beneficiaries will be required to re-register to extend their benefits through the expiration date. 

The situation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has determined that conditions in Honduras no longer warrant continued Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for that country’s citizens. According to DHS Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen, Honduras has made adequate progress in recovering from the environmental disaster-related conditions that prompted the country’s initial designation for the program. TPS for Honduras had been temporarily extended to July 5, 2018 while DHS considered a final decision on redesignation of that country.

A closer look

• TPS will be terminated for Honduras effective January 5, 2020.
• DHS advises beneficiaries to seek another U.S. immigration status or depart by the expiration date.
• Honduran TPS beneficiaries will need to re-register to extend their status and work authorization. DHS is to issue instructions and announce the re-registration period in the near future.​

The current state of Temporary Protected Status

The decision to terminate TPS for Honduras is the latest step in the Trump Administration’s plan to curtail TPS as it currently exists. Weeks ago, DHS announced that it will terminate TPS for Nepal effective June 24, 2019.

Earlier this year, DHS announced that it will terminate TPS for El Salvador effective September 9, 2019. In late 2017, DHS announced that it will terminate TPS for Sudan effective November 2, 2018, Nicaragua effective January 5, 2019 and Haiti effective July 22, 2019.

DHS has called on Congress to “enact a permanent solution for this inherently temporary program.”

Looking ahead

The termination of TPS for Honduras means that beneficiaries will lose work authorization and the ability to remain in the United States unless they are able to obtain another lawful status by January 5, 2020.

Fragomen will provide an update when DHS announces the TPS re-registration period for Hondurans. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.