Trump to End Deportation Protections for Thousands of Nicaraguans, Hondurans
In a bold move consistent with his America First immigration agenda, former President Donald Trump has announced plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for tens of thousands of Nicaraguans and Hondurans. The decision, which impacts approximately 76,000 individuals, reverses a long-standing policy that critics argue has allowed de facto amnesty for foreign nationals far beyond the original intent of the law.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the termination of TPS protections for Nicaraguans and Hondurans, first granted in 1999 following natural disasters in Central America. These migrants were originally given temporary relief after Hurricane Mitch devastated the region. However, that “temporary” status has now lasted over two decades.
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Trump’s move comes amid renewed attention on immigration enforcement and national sovereignty. “Temporary Protected Status was never meant to be permanent,” said one DHS official. “President Trump is restoring integrity to our immigration system. When conditions improve in these countries—as they have—there is no justification for continued extensions.”
According to DHS, protections for the roughly 4,000 Nicaraguans will expire on July 5, 2025, while the 72,000 Hondurans under TPS must leave by January 5, 2026. Both groups have been given 18-month wind-down periods to prepare for departure or pursue alternative legal status.
Critics on the left quickly decried the decision, calling it cruel and disruptive to families. But supporters argue the program has been abused for decades and needs reform. “TPS was meant to help people during temporary crises,” said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies. “It was not meant to allow people to stay indefinitely.”
Many Americans, particularly those in border states, have grown weary of open-ended immigration programs that strain public resources, burden schools, and challenge law enforcement. Trump’s renewed focus on lawful immigration resonates with voters who see unchecked migration as a threat to national cohesion and public safety.
Christian conservatives have also welcomed the move as a return to lawful order. While compassion for the foreigner is a biblical value, many point to Romans 13 and the importance of respecting governing authorities and national borders. “Compassion does not equal lawlessness,” one evangelical leader noted. “The U.S. has every right to determine who stays and who goes. Extending TPS indefinitely undermines the rule of law.”
Former President Trump’s approach stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s lax enforcement policies. Under Biden, the southern border saw record illegal crossings, and interior enforcement dropped sharply. Trump’s plan signals a return to the pre-Biden era, where law enforcement, not political correctness, drove immigration decisions.
Many of the TPS recipients from Honduras and Nicaragua have been in the U.S. for decades, building lives and families. But Trump allies argue this fact highlights the very problem with the program—its indefinite nature. “If someone’s been here 25 years under a ‘temporary’ program, that’s a policy failure,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). “President Trump is cleaning up that failure.”
The Biden administration had previously sought to extend TPS designations across numerous countries, including Venezuela and Haiti, while failing to enforce immigration law at the border. The policy created incentives for more migrants to flood the U.S., hoping for similar long-term leniency. The Trump campaign has made clear that such leniency will end under a second term.
As for those currently under TPS, DHS has stated they may apply for other forms of legal status if eligible or return to their home countries. The U.S. will work with Central American governments to facilitate returns. The Trump team insists this will send a message globally: U.S. immigration policy is not a free pass.
Several conservative immigration experts believe this is the right move—not just legally but morally. “It’s not compassionate to foster false hope,” said Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies. “When the U.S. government sends the message that temporary status lasts forever, it encourages illegal immigration and instability.”
Faith-based immigration advocates have been split on the issue. While some argue for blanket extensions of TPS on humanitarian grounds, others believe the government must enforce existing laws or risk undermining national integrity. Conservative Christian voices argue that America’s responsibility to its citizens includes secure borders and lawful immigration channels—not indefinite exceptions.
The debate over TPS and broader immigration reform is likely to remain a hot-button issue in the 2024 election cycle. Trump’s firm stance on enforcing immigration law will likely energize his base and further distinguish him from Biden’s open-border approach.
With the upcoming expiration dates now set in law, tens of thousands of Nicaraguans and Hondurans must begin planning their next steps. But for the millions of Americans concerned about the erosion of national sovereignty, Trump’s move may be a welcome course correction.
By restoring the temporary nature of “temporary” protections, Trump is reinforcing what many consider a biblical principle: justice with mercy, not mercy without boundaries. The restoration of lawful borders is not only a political issue—it’s a spiritual one for many Christian voters who believe that law, order, and truth still matter.
