Northern District of California: Legal Win for Immigrants: Judge Halts Trump-Era Termination of TPS for Three Countries — LIVE UPDATES

Northern District of California – A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to prematurely terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal, affecting more than 60,000 people currently living and working legally in the U.S. The decision, delivered by Judge Trina L. Thompson of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco on July 31, 2025, halts a September 2025 expiration deadline set by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The ruling extends protections until at least November 18, 2025, as a broader legal challenge moves through the courts.

Key Facts

• BREAKING: Federal judge blocks TPS termination for three countries.

• IMPACT: ~61,000 beneficiaries retain legal status and work permits.

• OFFICIAL SOURCE: “Migration is not a crime”—Judge Trina L. Thompson.

• ACTION: TPS holders maintain current status and await November court ruling.

Hyperlocal Impact

1. Precise Location:
   Northern District of California (San Francisco court jurisdiction), impacting communities nationwide.

2. Community Connection:

   “This ruling gives us hope, not deportation anxiety.”
   – Honduran TPS recipient in L.A. County

Exclusive Angle

• WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
  This decision contrasts sharply with the Supreme Court’s earlier approval of TPS termination for Venezuelans—a split approach raising concerns over consistent legal standards and the influence of political rhetoric on immigration policy.

Secretary Noem announced in early July that TPS for nationals from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal would end on September 8, 2025, citing “improved conditions” in those countries. By contrast, TPS for Haitians was previously slated to expire in February 2026, until a New York ruling blocked early termination.

Judge Thompson’s order highlights procedural flaws in DHS’s action, noting that the agency failed to properly evaluate current dangers—like ongoing political violence in Nicaragua and deadly natural disasters in Nepal. She sharply criticized Noem’s rhetoric, calling it “racially tinged and inflammatory,” and emphasized TPS beneficiaries are not criminals but valuable contributors to their communities.

This block comes amid an escalating legal battle: a separate decision by Judge Brian Cogan in New York similarly blocked the early termination of TPS for Haitians, citing unfair notice practices. Both cases are now progressing toward appeals, with key hearings expected by mid-November. Observers warn these judicial interventions could shape long-term TPS policy and potentially press Congress toward permanent protections.

Update Log

•  July 31, 2025: Judge Thompson issues nationwide pause on TPS termination.

•  July 1, 2025: New York judge blocks Haitian TPS rollback.

• Nov 18, 2025: Next hearing scheduled on Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua TPS challenge.