The Trump administration, through Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, has announced the termination of Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension, reversing an 18-month extension granted by the previous administration. As a result, Haiti’s TPS designation will now expire on August 3, 2025, unless extended.
Secretary Noem stated that the decision aligns with President Trump’s commitment to reforming the TPS system, which the administration argues has been misused and extended far beyond its original intent. “President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original purpose: temporary protection,” Noem said in the announcement.
TPS is a type of immigration status available to nationals of certain designated countries, allowing individuals, even if they entered the U.S. illegally, to reside temporarily in the country. The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to designate a foreign country for TPS if there is an ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Haiti was first designated for TPS following the devastating 2010 earthquake, but its status has since been repeatedly extended.
“In May 2011, DHS estimated that 57,000 Haitians were eligible to register for TPS. By August 2021, that number had risen to 155,000. As of July 2024, the estimate has skyrocketed to 520,694,” DHS said in a statement.
A DHS spokeswoman added, “The Biden administration attempted to tie the hands of the Trump administration by extending Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status by 18 months—far longer than justified or necessary. We are restoring integrity to the TPS system, which has been abused and exploited for decades. President Trump and Secretary Nielsen are returning TPS to its original purpose: temporary protection.”
Last month, Secretary Noem similarly rescinded the previous administration’s extension of TPS for Venezuela.
Now, Nepali TPS holders fear their country could be next. The Biden administration had extended Nepal’s TPS designation until June 24, 2025. Nepal was granted TPS in 2015 following a catastrophic earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people and displaced millions.
“We are living in fear every day,” said a Nepali TPS holder who has been residing in the U.S. “I have built my life here, my children go to school here, and we contribute to this country. If TPS is terminated, I don’t know where we will go.”
Another TPS holder echoed similar concerns. “Nepal is still struggling economically, and there are no job opportunities. Sending us back would not only hurt us but also the families who rely on us for financial support,” she said.
With the Trump administration’s latest actions, the future of TPS for Nepalis remains uncertain, and many are bracing for what could come next.
However, nearly 50 percent of Nepalis in the U.S. have transitioned out of Temporary Protected Status and moved to other immigration statuses. Currently, 7,505 Nepalis remain under TPS. A report by the Congressional Research Service highlights that the number of Nepalis leaving TPS and transitioning to other statuses has significantly increased.
According to the latest report, 7,505 Nepalis now have approved TPS—a significant decrease from the 14,791 who were under TPS in 2017.
A USCIS report from October 12, 2017, indicated that 14,791 Nepalis were initially under TPS. However, since then, many have left TPS, often obtaining green cards or shifting to other immigration statuses.
The number of Nepalis with approved TPS dropped from 8,525 in March 2023 to 8,100 in September 2023—a decline over six months. By March 2024, this number fell further to 7,875, and as of September 30, 2024, it stands at 7,505.
According to the report, these figures reflect the number of individuals with an approved TPS application who have not obtained lawful permanent resident (LPR) status or U.S. citizenship. The data may include individuals who have left the country or passed away since their last TPS approval and do not necessarily account for all nationals from the specified countries who are currently in the United States and eligible for the status.
In 2018, the Trump administration sought to terminate TPS for immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Nepal, and Honduras. However, these efforts were blocked due to legal challenges. A lawsuit filed by TPS holders in 2017 and 2018 successfully delayed the termination of TPS for nearly six years.
In 2018, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction, maintaining TPS protections for affected individuals. However, in 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned this injunction.
Representing Nepal in the legal case were lead plaintiffs Keshav Bhattarai and Sajjan Pandey. In June 2023, the Biden administration reversed Trump’s decision to end TPS, extending protections for approximately 300,000 individuals from Nepal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Around the same time, TPS designations for Haiti and Sudan were also reinstated.
On December 28, 2023, a federal court dismissed the Ramos case, ruling that it was no longer relevant after the Biden administration fulfilled the plaintiffs’ demands by extending TPS deadlines.
In 2023, the Biden administration announced an 18-month extension of TPS for Nepalis until June 24, 2025, reversing the previous administration’s plans to terminate the program. The Department of Homeland Security had earlier automatically extended TPS documents until June 30, 2024, though this did not affect the TPS period itself.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
