Miami, Florida — A federal lawsuit is underway challenging the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Nicaragua, Honduras, and several other nations. Maria Elena Hernandez, an immigrant from Nicaragua, is among the seven plaintiffs in this case, as announced by the Local 32BJ Service Employees International Union.
On Monday, the Trump administration revoked TPS for approximately 72,000 Honduran and 4,000 Nicaraguan immigrants, many of whom reside in South Florida. This program has historically offered protection from deportation to individuals unable to return safely to their home countries due to ongoing humanitarian crises.
The National TPS Alliance lodged its own lawsuit earlier this week in federal court in San Francisco, asserting that the administration’s actions were rooted in racial bias and failed to take into account the dire social and political conditions in the immigrants’ home countries.
Hernandez, a longtime member of Local 32BJ, expressed her fears about returning to Nicaragua, which has been under the authoritarian rule of President Daniel Ortega and co-President Rosario Murillo. Following violent crackdowns on protests in 2018, the Nicaraguan government has intensified its repression of dissent, prompting a United Nations panel to issue warnings about widespread human rights violations.
Having spent decades working as a custodian and living in the same community in the U.S., Hernandez voiced concern over her contributions to American society. “I have paid all my taxes and obeyed the laws,” she stated. “Why is the government trying to get rid of so many people who have contributed so much to this country?”
Helene O’Brien, Vice President of 32BJ SEIU, emphasized the negative impact that deporting TPS holders could have on families and the economy. “Ripping long-time TPS holders from their jobs and communities won’t create a single new opportunity for anyone,” she said. O’Brien argued that this decision could drain billions from local economies and disrupt essential services in various sectors, including education and healthcare.
TPS was initially granted to immigrants from Nicaragua and Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The designation has been regularly renewed every 18 months due to the ongoing violence and instability affecting both nations. However, government officials have now asserted that conditions have improved enough to facilitate safe returns, deeming TPS no longer necessary.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated this week that the TPS for Nicaraguans was never intended to last for more than two decades, echoing similar remarks made regarding Honduran immigrants. TPS holders face a precarious future as their protections have now expired, granting a 60-day window before they can be deported.
This termination of TPS is consistent with President Trump’s broader immigration policy agenda aimed at dismantling protections instituted during the Biden administration. As the legal battles unfold, the futures of thousands of immigrants hang in the balance.
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