The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepal, impacting approximately 7,500 Nepali immigrants in the United States. The decision, set to be published in a Federal Register notice on June 6, comes after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reviewed conditions in Nepal and determined they no longer meet the statutory requirements for TPS.
“After reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. Government agencies, the Secretary has determined that Nepal no longer continues to meet the conditions for its designation for TPS. The Secretary, therefore, is terminating the TPS designation of Nepal as required by statute,” the notice states.
The designation will end at 11:59 p.m. on August 5, 2025, giving beneficiaries a mere 60-day window to either leave the U.S. or secure alternative legal status. This abrupt decision overrides earlier indications from DHS sources, reported last month to NepYork, that Nepal’s TPS would automatically extend until December 24, 2025, pending a final decision.
The Federal Register notice details the reasons for the termination, as required by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 244(b)(3)(A). Secretary Noem, in consultation with agencies like the Department of State, evaluated whether Nepal continues to meet TPS designation criteria under INA section 244(b)(1)(B), specifically: (1) whether there is a substantial but temporary disruption of living conditions due to the 2015 earthquake, and (2) whether Nepal can adequately handle the return of its nationals. The Secretary concluded that Nepal no longer meets these conditions due to significant recovery efforts.
According to the notice, Nepal has made substantial progress since the April 25, 2015, earthquake. The Nepali Government’s September 2024 Disaster Report indicates that 88.36% of damaged households have been rebuilt. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre reports that 90% of surveyed internally displaced persons have purchased new homes, despite some ongoing socioeconomic impacts. In the health sector, 81.43% of damaged facilities have been reconstructed. The World Bank and other donors have supported the construction of over 300,000 houses and provided technical assistance to communities and local governments. Nepal’s National Reconstruction Authority, disbanded in 2021, oversaw the rebuilding of most impacted structures.
Nepal has also improved its preparedness and response to subsequent environmental events, such as flooding and landslides, with advancements in disaster-resilient housing, infrastructure, and community systems. Economically, Nepal’s gross domestic product grew by 2% from Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024, with a projected growth rate of 4.9% in 2025. Inflation has decreased, and the purchasing power of lower-income households has increased. Additionally, Nepal has been accepting the return of its nationals with final removal orders over the past five years, demonstrating its capacity to manage repatriation, according to the notice.
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows nationals of designated countries to live and work legally in the U.S. when returning to their home country is unsafe due to conditions like armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances. Nepal was granted TPS on June 24, 2015, by then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, following a catastrophic earthquake on April 25, 2015, which caused significant loss of life and infrastructure damage. The disaster left Nepal temporarily unable to safely manage the return of its citizens, justifying TPS for approximately 15,000 Nepalis in the U.S. at the time.
Over the years, the number of Nepali TPS beneficiaries has decreased significantly. By March 2023, the figure stood at 8,525, dropping to 8,100 by September 2023. By March 2024, it further declined to 7,875, and the most recent report from December 2024 indicates 7,505 approved TPS holders. This reduction reflects many Nepalis transitioning to other immigration statuses, such as work visas or permanent residency, or leaving the program voluntarily.
Under TPS regulations, if the DHS Secretary does not announce a decision to extend or terminate a country’s TPS designation at least 60 days before its expiration, the designation automatically extends for six months. Last month, DHS sources indicated to NepYork that Nepal’s TPS, set to expire on June 24, 2025, would likely extend automatically to December 24, 2025, as no final decision had been made. However, DHS has now opted to terminate the program with only a 60-day wind-down period, a significant departure from the standard six-month extension. DHS justifies the termination by citing Nepal’s progress in recovering from the 2015 earthquake, including rebuilt infrastructure and restored public services.
The termination of Nepal’s TPS is not the first attempt to end the program. In 2017 and 2018, the Trump administration sought to terminate TPS for Nepal, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Sudan. These efforts faced legal challenges, notably in the Ramos v. Nielsen case, where TPS beneficiaries, including Nepali plaintiffs Keshav Bhattarai and Sajjan Pandey, secured a preliminary injunction in 2018. This injunction preserved TPS for affected countries for nearly five years. The advocacy group Adhikaar played a pivotal role in supporting the case.
In 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the injunction, paving the way for potential terminations. However, the Biden administration later reversed the Trump-era termination decisions, extending Nepal’s TPS until June 24, 2025, and fulfilling the plaintiffs’ demands. On December 28, 2023, a federal district court dismissed the Ramos case, deeming it moot after the Biden administration’s extensions.
The termination affects approximately 7,505 Nepali TPS holders, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for a decade, establishing deep roots through families, businesses, and community involvement. With only 60 days until August 5, 2025, beneficiaries must either secure alternative legal status—such as work visas, family-based petitions, or asylum—or prepare to return to Nepal. DHS has recommended using the CBP One mobile application for those planning voluntary departure.
The short 60-day period has raised concerns among Nepali-American communities and immigrant advocates, who argue it is insufficient for such life-altering decisions. Many beneficiaries face logistical challenges, including arranging travel, securing employment in Nepal, and addressing economic uncertainties in a country still grappling with recovery from the 2015 earthquake and subsequent environmental and economic setbacks.
TPS beneficiaries are urged to consult immigration attorneys to explore options like adjusting status or applying for other forms of relief.
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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.
