WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will end temporary protected status (TPS) for Hondurans, who have been protected since Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998.
The decision affects about 57,000 Hondurans in the country with temporary protected status (TPS), which has been extended as subsequent natural disasters, widespread violence and political unrest have contributed to continued instability since protections were granted after Hurricane Mitch in 1999. Many have legally resided in the U.S. for nearly two decades and have U.S. citizen children.
Each year Honduran TPS holders contribute over $1 billion to the U.S. GDP, and 85 percent of Honduran TPS holders are in the labor force. In addition to the loss of GDP from removing thousands of recipients from the workforce, the cost of deporting Honduran TPS holders is estimated to be over $700 million.
“This decision disrupts the lives of thousands of Honduran TPS holders, their U.S. citizen family members, and the communities and industries they’ve played a critical role in for nearly two decades,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Ending these protections at a time when violence, crime and instability continue to drive Hondurans to seek asylum and safety in the U.S. does not reflect our values as a nation.
“The cruel irony of ending legal status for nearly 50,000 taxpayers to send them to one of the most dangerous countries in the world – a country people are literally fleeing – is beyond the pale.”