Hudson Speaks to Host Free Legal Clinic on Immigrants’ Rights During the Trump Administration

As Nepali Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders face heightened anxiety following Donald Trump’s reelection, Hudson Speaks is organizing a free legal clinic and immigration forum on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The event will take place from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Hudson County Community College (HCCC), 71 Sip Avenue, Jersey City, NJ, just one day ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The forum, co-hosted by Bolo Behan, Women for Cause, and TAP, will feature New York-based immigration attorney Keshab Raj Sedie and immigration advocate Catherine Tansey. They will address critical issues surrounding the rights of Nepali TPS holders and other immigrants under the Trump administration.

“Immigrants should know their rights, and we are trying to make them aware of their immigration rights,” said Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Program Director of HUDSON S.P.E.A.K.S. Against Sexual Violence.

Approximately 8,000 Nepalis currently protected under TPS are experiencing renewed uncertainty as Trump prepares to take office on January 20. His campaign promises to revoke TPS and implement mass deportations have intensified fears among individuals who have relied on these protections since the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

Attorney Keshab Raj Sedie highlighted the complexities facing the Nepali community, noting that concerns extend beyond TPS holders to others with precarious immigration statuses. “I have seen three groups of people worried about their future in the U.S.,” Sedie explained. “First, those with a final order of deportation, some with TPS and some without. Second, those with pending asylum but no TPS. Third, those with pending court removal cases, some with asylum or other applications, such as a pending I-485 or labor applications.”

Sedie urged families to prepare for potential deportations, advising individuals eligible for green card processing to expedite their cases under current policies. “I would advise everyone to get your house and family matters in order, as if you will be picked up tomorrow, to lessen the impact on family members left behind,” he stated.

The forum is set against a backdrop of heightened fear among Nepali TPS holders, who worry about the potential rollback of protections that have allowed them to build stable lives in the U.S. An anonymous TPS holder shared, “The thought of losing TPS is terrifying. This status has given us stability and the chance to build our lives here. I just want to be able to continue living in peace without the constant worry of deportation.”

During Trump’s previous term, his administration attempted to terminate TPS for several countries, including Nepal, leading to legal battles that temporarily preserved the status. While the Biden administration extended TPS protections until June 24, 2025, the future of these protections remains uncertain under Trump’s renewed leadership.

The upcoming forum will provide immigrants with vital information and legal guidance, aiming to empower them with the resources needed to navigate this uncertain landscape.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has disclosed that 1,365 Nepali nationals are currently living in the United States with final deportation orders. These individuals are part of a larger group of approximately 1.45 million immigrants who remain in the country despite being ordered to leave.

While not in ICE custody, these Nepali nationals are considered a priority for deportation under the incoming Trump administration. Previously, NepYork reported data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review, indicating that 3,449 Nepalis had received deportation orders to date. However, the latest ICE data suggests that nearly 2,000 of them have either left the U.S., been deported by ICE, are covered by other statuses, such as TPS, or adjusted their immigration status through other means.

Approximately 1,500 Nepalis received final deportation orders during the previous Trump and current Biden administrations and were not eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).