After concluding that conditions in Honduras have “notably improved” since a 1999 hurricane led to Hondurans being granted temporary protected status (TPS) in the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans on Friday to terminate TPS designation in January 2020.
More than 86,000 Hondurans were granted TPS status following Hurricane Mitch in 1999. The Congressional Research Service reported in January that about 50,000 Hondurans with TPS designation remain in the United States today.
A DHS statement released on Friday states that U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen has determined that the Immigration and National Security Act requires the termination
TPS designation for Hondurans. The termination date has been delayed 18 months to Jan. 5, 2020, in an effort to facilitate an orderly transition.
“The 18-month delayed effective date will also provide time for Honduras to prepare for the return and reintegration of its citizens,” a DHS release stated. “During this timeframe, DHS will work with the Department of State and the government of Honduras to help educate relevant stakeholders and facilitate an orderly transition. In addition to materials posted online, DHS components will participate in outreach activities such as teleconferences, town halls, and roundtables to ensure that affected populations have a full and accurate understanding of their rights and obligations.”
Hondurans currently living in the United States will be required to re-register and apply for employment authorization documents to continue legally working in the country during the 18-month extension period, the DHS release stated.