Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua are bracing for significant changes to their legal status and work authorization, with deadlines approaching in August and September, respectively.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TPS holders from Nepal will lose their legal status on August 5, while those from Honduras and Nicaragua will follow suit on September 8.
Sijan Shrestha, a 29-year-old resident of Brighton, migrated to the United States from Nepal in 2014 as an international student. He gained TPS status after a catastrophic earthquake struck Nepal in 2015.
“I’m at the mercy of DHS,” he stated in an interview.
Shrestha, who currently works in the biotechnology field, believes he has made valuable contributions to the U.S. economy through his employment and tax payments.
Reflecting on his situation, he said, “You’re not the same person as you were before you get punched in the head, and it’s the same thing here,” indicating the profound impact the potential loss of TPS would have on him, especially considering he has not lived in Nepal since he turned 18.
As uncertainty looms over his TPS status, Shrestha attempted to find alternative pathways to legal residency but was unfortunately not selected in the H-1B lottery for work visas. He is now contemplating attending graduate school to extend his stay in the U.S. for a few more years.
“For the longest time, I chose not to speak about it; there were too many questions,” he reflected, acknowledging the emotional toll of his circumstances.
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition reported that at least 17,135 TPS holders reside in Massachusetts, many of whom have children that are U.S. citizens.
The TPS designations for Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals were initially granted in 1999 as a response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch. In a recent statement, DHS clarified that the TPS program was never intended to exist for over 25 years, arguing that the impact of the natural disaster on Central America no longer justifies the continuation of TPS.
TPS allows individuals from select countries currently in the U.S. to receive temporary protective status during times of natural disaster, civil conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. However, it does not confer permanent resident status.
Under TPS, individuals cannot be removed from the U.S., can obtain work and travel authorization, and cannot be detained by DHS based on immigration status alone.
Haitian TPS holders, another significant immigrant community in Massachusetts, are scheduled to lose their protected status on February 3, 2026, according to DHS.
During a recent rally supportive of TPS holders, many attendees displayed signs advocating for immigrant rights, with messages such as, “Immigrants make U.S. great.”
Patricia Carbajal, a 46-year-old resident of Revere who arrived in Texas from Honduras in 1998, shared her distress over potentially facing deportation in the upcoming months after 26 years of living and working in the U.S.
“Our lives depend on the judge’s decision,” she remarked in Spanish, referring to a pending lawsuit in San Francisco that could affect her status.
Isabel Matute, 52, a native of El Salvador residing in Revere, has spent more than 26 years in the U.S. She transitioned from being a TPS holder to awaiting her green card after marrying a U.S. citizen.
“One has to fight for those who can’t,” Matute stated in Spanish, emphasizing the importance of advocacy for those who may be unable to protect their status.
image source from：bostonglobe
