Appeals Court Clears Way for Trump Administration to End Temporary Protections for Migrants From Three Countries

A federal appellate panel paused a lower court ruling, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

A federal appeals court based in California handed President Donald Trump a significant legal victory Monday night by allowing the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status for migrants from three countries.

The San Francisco-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order freezing a lower court decision that would have blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from terminating Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua, according to reporting by Fox News.

In its order, the appeals court said the federal government was likely to prevail on the merits of the case, finding that Noem’s decision to end the protections “was not arbitrary or capricious.”

Noem and the Department of Homeland Security argued that the Temporary Protected Status designations were tied to specific events—such as natural disasters or political crises—that occurred years ago and no longer justify continued protection. DHS has maintained that the program was always intended to be temporary and subject to periodic review.

Attorney General Pam Bondi welcomed the ruling, calling it a major step forward for the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda. “This is a crucial legal win from Justice Department attorneys that helps clear the way for President Trump’s continued deportations,” Bondi said in a statement posted on X. She added that the court found “the government is likely to prevail in its argument” that ending Temporary Protected Status for certain immigrants is lawful and consistent with federal policy.

Temporary Protected Status is granted to individuals from countries deemed unsafe due to conditions such as armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances. The designation is typically issued for periods of six, 12, or 18 months and allows recipients to live and work in the United States while shielding them from deportation during that time.

The appeals court decision pauses the lower court’s order while the case continues, effectively permitting the Trump administration to proceed with ending the protections as legal challenges move forward.