Opinion: Don't end TPS for immigrants threatened in their home countries

California is home to nearly 80,000 TPS recipients who contributed $3.6 billion to the state's economy last year. They deserve to stay.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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An op-ed arguing against the Trump administration's efforts to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Nicaragua, Honduras, Nepal, and other countries. The author highlights the negative impacts this would have on California, where nearly 80,000 TPS recipients live and contribute billions to the state's economy. The piece also criticizes the administration's broader efforts to deport immigrants to countries facing political turmoil and instability.

Why it matters

Ending TPS would strip legal status from over 60,000 immigrants, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades and contribute significantly to their local communities. This disproportionately impacts people of color and could lead to increased ICE enforcement and deportations, even in cases where race is used as a basis for questioning someone's immigration status.

The details

The Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS for immigrants from several countries, including Nicaragua, Honduras, Nepal, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Cuba. This would turn documented immigrants into undocumented ones and potentially set the stage for increased ICE operations targeting these communities. The author argues the administration is deliberately manufacturing humanitarian crises in these countries to justify the TPS terminations, while also weakening international aid networks that could help these nations.

  • In February 2026, a panel of conservative federal judges ruled that the Department of Homeland Security can move forward with terminating TPS for immigrants from Nicaragua, Honduras and Nepal.
  • Before a judge blocked its termination, TPS for Haitians was slated to end on February 3, 2026.
  • TPS is currently scheduled to end for Somali, Yemeni, Salvadoran, Sudanese and Ukrainian nationals in the upcoming months.

The players

Jessica Bansal

An attorney with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

Jordan Liz

An associate professor of philosophy at San José State University who specializes in issues of race, immigration, and the politics of belonging.

Renee Good

A victim of increased ICE enforcement.

Alex Pretti

A victim of increased ICE enforcement.

Nicolás Maduro

The president of Venezuela who was kidnapped by the Trump administration.

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What they’re saying

“The 'decision allows mothers, fathers, students, and workers who have lived lawfully in this country for decades to be stripped of status without even acknowledging the devastation caused to them and their families or the contribution they have made to their communities.'”

— Jessica Bansal, Attorney, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (Times of San Diego)

What’s next

Judges may rule against some of the administration's efforts to end TPS, but the Department of Homeland Security will likely appeal until they find a court that will give them the decision they want.

The takeaway

TPS was designed to aid those in need, and its moral and political duty cannot be forfeited to the racist and xenophobic whims of the Trump administration. The public must stand with immigrant communities and push elected officials to put guardrails on the clear abuse of power by DHS.