On November 6, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will end Nicaraguan Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on January 5, 2019, but it has not yet made a decision about terminating Honduran TPS and will therefore extend it for six months while it deliberates.
Congress created TPS to allow foreign-born individuals already in the U.S. when natural disasters strike or civil conflict erupts or escalates in their home countries to apply to stay and work legally in the U.S., until our government determines they can return. TPS is normally granted and extended in 12 or 18-month increments.
Nicaraguans and Hondurans with TPS have lived in the U.S. since at least December 1998, with more than half having lived here for over two decades. Approximately 57,000 Hondurans nationwide have TPS, and another 3000 Nicaraguans do. Maine has many Hondurans with TPS living and working in communities throughout the state. Many have U.S. citizen children.
DHS Acting Secretary Elaine Duke urged Congress to pass legislation to allow the Nicaraguans who will be losing their TPS status, to remain in the U.S. permanently.