A federal judge in California has postponed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to terminate protections for immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.
Judge Trina Thompson indicated that the DHS’s approach, particularly under Secretary Christi Noem, likely reflected a “pre-defined decision” that clashed with the Administrative Procedure Act and seemed influenced by racial bias.
In her order, Thompson expressed that immigrants seek “freedom to live fearlessly,” yet they are faced with discrimination based on their race. She stated further, “Color is neither venom nor crime.”
The lawsuit was filed by a group advocating for TPS holders, many of whom have been in the U.S. for over two decades. The attorney representing these immigrants highlighted their diverse roles in society, including as healthcare workers and artists.
The plaintiffs argued that Noem’s refusal to extend TPS lacked a thorough legal framework, suggesting that decisions should be based on specific conditions relevant to each country. The judge noted that it seemed Noem might have bypassed individual analyses in her determination.
Additionally, it was pointed out that immigrants received a notably short notice period—just 60 days—before potentially losing TPS. Lawyers also mentioned how officials, including Noem, have used racially charged language to justify the TPS decisions.
In a related ruling, a federal judge blocked parts of Trump’s immigration policy regarding protections for Haitian immigrants.
The TPS (Temporary Protected Status) program allows immigrants to live here safely when their home countries face dire situations like conflicts or natural disasters. The lawsuit claims that around 61,000 individuals will lose their status due to Noem’s recent decision, affecting their legal residency and work permits—placing them at risk of deportation.
The Trump administration had maintained that the laws governing TPS grant DHS secretaries the authority to designate or terminate TPS status, asserting that Noem had the right to act similarly to her predecessors.
In May, the Supreme Court intervened in a separate lawsuit concerning Venezuelan TPS, issuing an emergency order that temporarily halted a lower court’s decision affecting about 350,000 immigrants.
Thompson’s ruling will remain in effect at least until November when the next hearing is scheduled. DHS has stated its intention to appeal this decision.
