USCIS Confirms TPS Work Permits Automatically Extended for Nepalis, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans

Work permits for thousands of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua have been automatically extended in the United States following a federal court order that vacated the Trump administration’s decision to terminate their TPS designations.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified on its website that Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for beneficiaries from these three countries remain valid without the need for new applications, as long as the court’s order in National TPS Alliance et al. v. Noem et al. remains in effect.

On December 31, 2025, Judge Trina Thompson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order vacating Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to end TPS for Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The court found that the administration failed to properly assess current country conditions or adequately consider whether it was safe for beneficiaries to return. Judge Thompson concluded that the termination decision was made without a sufficient evaluation of on-the-ground realities.

The court also accepted arguments that past statements by President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem—characterizing immigrants as “criminals” and “invaders”—reflected discriminatory intent. The ruling described such rhetoric as evidence of racial and ethnic animus, suggesting that the TPS termination decisions were legally tainted.

Prior to the court’s intervention, Secretary Noem had formally determined that Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua no longer met the statutory conditions for TPS. Under those determinations, TPS benefits for Nepal were scheduled to end on August 5, 2025, followed by Honduras and Nicaragua on September 8, 2025.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a sharp response to Judge Thompson’s order, stating that it “vehemently disagrees” with the ruling. DHS noted that it has recently prevailed in similar TPS-related cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and is working with the Department of Justice to consider potential appeals.

As a direct result of the federal court order, USCIS has confirmed that the validity of EADs for TPS beneficiaries from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua has been automatically extended. Individuals whose work permits fall within specific historical expiration periods remain legally authorized to work, despite the expiration dates printed on their physical cards.

For Nepali TPS holders, the extension applies to EADs with original expiration dates ranging from June 24, 2018, through June 24, 2025, including interim dates such as March 24, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Similarly, TPS beneficiaries from Honduras and Nicaragua are covered if their EADs expired on dates including January 5, 2018, April 2, 2019, and as recently as July 5, 2025.

USCIS has emphasized that beneficiaries whose EADs fall within these listed dates do not need to file new applications or pay additional fees solely to maintain their work authorization. This guidance is particularly important for employers, as it allows them to continue accepting these documents for Form I-9 employment eligibility verification. As long as the injunction in National TPS Alliance et al. v. Noem remains in effect, these expired EADs must be treated as valid proof of authorization to work in the United States.

The decision temporarily protects their right to live and work in the U.S. and halts deportation actions based on the now-vacated termination. New York-based immigration attorney Keshab Seadie said the ruling “validates the lawful presence of TPS holders,” but cautioned that the long-term outlook remains uncertain.

“If the administration loses on appeal, TPS will remain in place and the government will be forced to revisit its termination process without bias,” Seadie said. “If it prevails, however, deportation risks could resurface after a transition period of six to eighteen months.”

Seadie advised TPS holders to avoid international travel without consulting legal counsel and to maintain careful records of all court notices and immigration documents.