The recent announcement by President Donald Trump regarding the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 80,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans has left the communities in San Francisco feeling unsettled and anxious.
Lariza Duran-Cuadra, the executive director of the Central American Resource Center of Northern California, expressed the collective dismay of those affected.
“It’s a really terrible day,” she stated, highlighting the significant contributions of TPS holders who have established their lives in the United States, owning businesses and homes, and belonging to mixed-status families.
Since its inception in 1999, TPS has provided legal status to those from Honduras and Nicaragua impacted by Hurricane Mitch, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. due to unsafe living conditions in their home countries.
The decision mandates that TPS holders from both nations must leave the country by September 8.
Under this program, individuals from various countries, including Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Nepal, could legally reside in the U.S. because of conditions such as natural disasters, civil wars, or epidemics that hinder safe return.
Typically, designations for TPS are renewed by the president for periods of six, twelve, or eighteen months, leaving immigrants in a precarious situation as Congress has failed for decades to provide permanent status options for TPS recipients.
Selina Bonilla, an employee at Martha’s Restaurant, a Honduran-Mexican establishment, voiced the frustrations of her friends who are grappling with the implications of the decision.
“This is a tool that we have to work here,” she remarked, underscoring the fears of many as they feel their ability to support themselves has been stripped away.
Karen Reyes, a Honduran who has been in the U.S. for three years, stated, “The impact will be felt by everyone,” reflecting the widespread concern among her community.
TPS has aided those from Honduras and Nicaragua for over 25 years, following Hurricane Mitch, which devastated Central America in 1998, killing around 11,000 individuals and causing $6 billion in damages.
The announcement made by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that the conditions in both countries have improved, leading to the decision to rescind TPS.
As a result, affected individuals have been allotted only 60 days to leave the United States.
Duran-Cuadra urged those affected to seek legal consultation to explore other potential avenues for relief, but acknowledged the challenges faced by many—particularly older adults—when time is limited.
Jennifer Friedman, the interim head of the immigration unit at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, anticipates potential legal challenges to the administration’s decision, similar to previous cases concerning TPS for Haiti and Venezuela earlier in the presidency.
“This will impact tens of thousands of community members who have been here with work authorization for more than two decades and have been following the immigration rules,” Friedman noted, adding that this shift could thrust many into the same state of uncertainty faced by other immigrant communities.
In a prior instance, a district judge ruled against the administration regarding TPS for Haiti, citing insufficient notice for recipients, a ruling expected to be contested.
Venezuelans also faced challenges when a quota was imposed earlier this year, leading to what some regarded as the largest instantaneous de-documentation of immigrants in U.S. history after a ruling in favor of the administration by the Supreme Court.
District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder characterized the decision as cruel and suggested it would create chaos for immigrant families in the nation.
In her statement, Fielder remarked, “This administration is summarily attempting to remove all legal avenues for immigrants who are established in our communities to adjust their status, which will lead to increased deportations.”
This decision is projected to affect approximately 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans nationwide.
TPS holders comprise a small fraction of the 1.1 million Hondurans and 450,000 Nicaraguans residing in the United States.
California is home to the largest number of TPS recipients, totaling 72,585 from 16 different countries, following Florida, Texas, and New York.
The presence of Nicaraguans and Hondurans in San Francisco is notable, with 3,552 Nicaraguans and 2,546 Hondurans reported to live in the city, representing 1.2% and 0.9% of the foreign-born population, respectively.
Despite some gains made in their economies, both Nicaragua and Honduras remain some of the poorest nations in the region, thus raising concerns about safe return for TPS holders.
The current political landscape continues to evolve, and the ramifications of this decision will resonate through immigrant communities, as many face an uncertain future.
image source from：missionlocal
