On Tuesday afternoon, five San Francisco supervisors joined labor organizers and immigrant advocates to denounce President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 60,000 immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.
The decision marks a significant policy shift that threatens the lives of many long-term residents and workers in the city.
District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who spearheaded the rally and introduced a non-binding resolution, expressed concern about the adverse effects on the immigrant communities in San Francisco.
“The termination of any of the current countries that receive Temporary Protected Status directly affects our immigrant communities in San Francisco,” said Fielder.
Alongside her at City Hall were Supervisors Myrna Melgar, Chyanne Chen, Shamann Walton, and Bilal Mahmood.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the resolution, which calls on the California federal delegation to seek a permanent pathway for those holding TPS.
City Attorney David Chiu, addressing the attendees, remarked, “As your city attorney, I can share with you that our office is doing everything we can to stand with our immigrants because we know how far our country has fallen from the promise of the Statue of Liberty.”
Chiu’s office had previously filed amicus briefs on July 29, which highlighted the deep integration of the immigrant population into American society.
He warned that ending TPS would result in “irreparable harm” to local communities, adding, “We have to stand together.”
Temporary Protected Status was established by the U.S. Congress as part of the Immigration Act of 1990.
It provides protection to nationals from countries facing civil wars or environmental crises such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
However, this protection must be renewed periodically, every six, 12, or 18 months, depending on the country involved.
Kimberly, a city worker attending the rally, shared a personal story about her mother, Janeth, a Honduran immigrant who relocated to Los Angeles at age 23 after being displaced by Hurricane Mitch.
The aftermath of the hurricane left Honduras fraught with violence, disease, and destruction, prompting the U.S. to consistently renew TPS for Hondurans.
Kimberly emphasized that her mother’s ability to remain in the U.S. hinged on the renewal of her TPS status, which carries limited benefits.
“The only thing that they give you with TPS is work authorization and deportation protection and to be legally present here,” Kimberly said.
She described her mother’s two-decade career as a nurse at Kaiser, explaining how the impending loss of TPS status means her mother’s employment will be cut off as of September 8, 2025.
“She needs all the money that she can get because she has a mortgage,” Kimberly noted, highlighting the financial instability brought on by the court ruling on August 20 that allowed the Trump administration to terminate TPS for Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.
NPR estimated that the ruling will impact approximately 51,000 Hondurans and 3,000 Nicaraguans, all of whom will face deportation once their TPS designations expire.
Additionally, around 7,000 Nepali individuals will see their TPS designations end on August 5.
Kimberly reflected on her mother’s current state as she continues to work seven days a week to save money before being laid off.
“Mentally, she’s not okay,” Kimberly said.
Despite the uncertainty and the fear of returning to Honduras, her mother remains dedicated to her job.
“She doesn’t have any family in Honduras anymore,” Kimberly added, painting a portrait of a life upended by the imminent changes imposed by the federal policy.
With the resolution passed and the rally drawing attention, the San Francisco supervisors aim to highlight the urgent needs of TPS holders and advocate for their rights.
image source from：missionlocal
