A federal judge in California has halted the Trump administration’s plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua.
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acted with “racial and discriminatory animus” in attempting to allow TPS to expire for nationals from the three countries.
The DHS directive had been issued by Secretary Kristi Noem, who was implementing a Trump-era immigration policy to end protections granted decades ago.
Thompson, a Biden appointee, cited public remarks from both President Trump and Noem in her decision, alleging that their statements “perpetuate the discriminatory belief that certain immigrant populations will replace the white population.”
She added, “Color is neither a poison nor a crime,” and accused both officials of linking TPS recipients with criminal aliens, according to The Gateway Pundit.
The blocked order would have required about 53,000 Hondurans, 3,000 Nicaraguans and 7,500 Nepalese immigrants to leave the U.S. starting in early September.
Instead, their protected status has been extended until at least Nov. 18, pending further court proceedings. Thompson also signaled that more relief could be granted after future hearings.
In her ruling, Thompson claimed that