James Fights Trump’s TPS Blitz, 60K Lives on the Line

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a 14-state charge against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), accusing Secretary Kristi Noem of a callous and illegal attempt to dismantle Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The move threatens the legal status of over 60,000 people who have built lives and contributed to the U.S. economy for decades, and James isn’t backing down.

The Attorney General’s office filed an amicus brief today in National TPS Alliance v. Noem, arguing that DHS’s terminations are not only legally unsound but will have devastating economic and humanitarian consequences. “Revoking TPS for 60,000 people will do nothing except cause chaos throughout New York and other states and stoke fear in immigrant communities,” James stated bluntly. “By eliminating their legal status, this administration is putting thousands of New Yorkers in danger and breaking up families across the country.”

The DHS, under Secretary Noem, first moved to terminate TPS for Nepal on June 6, impacting approximately 7,200 Nepali immigrants who have resided and worked legally in the U.S. since the 2015 earthquakes. This was swiftly followed on July 8 with announcements terminating TPS for Honduras (51,000 holders) and Nicaragua (2,900 holders). Critically, many of these Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS recipients have been protected since 1999, following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch – a full 25 years of stability now ripped away.

The implications extend far beyond the individual TPS holders. The attorneys general warn of widespread family disruption. In 2022, roughly 68,000 U.S. citizens had a Honduran TPS holder as a family member, alongside 13,000 with Nicaraguan and 23,000 with Nepali TPS holders. Over 100,000 U.S. citizens are now facing the prospect of separation from loved ones. The brief details a grim choice facing those affected: return to dangerous home countries alone, uproot entire families to unstable regions, or live in the shadows, vulnerable to deportation.

New York, with an estimated 56,800 TPS holders from all nations, stands to be significantly impacted. Queens County, in particular, is a hub for Nepali immigrants. James emphasizes that TPS holders aren’t simply recipients of aid; they are integral parts of the state’s economy and workforce. Stripping them of legal status is a self-inflicted wound. The coalition is demanding the court issue a preliminary injunction to postpone these terminations and protect these vulnerable immigrants.

Joining Attorney General James in the legal battle are the Attorneys General of [list of remaining 13 AGs would go here, omitted for brevity and adherence to provided data]. The case promises to be a fierce fight, pitting the legal rights of tens of thousands of immigrants against a hardline immigration policy driven by the Trump administration. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story.

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