The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivers a major victory for President Trump’s immigration enforcement.
Story Highlights
- Federal appeals court stays district judge’s ruling, enabling TPS terminations to proceed immediately under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Affects approximately 88,700 TPS holders, prioritizing rule of law over extended temporary stays originally meant for disasters decades ago.
- The Trump administration advances the America First agenda, countering years of open-border policies that strained American communities.
- Plaintiffs, backed by ACLU and activist groups, face deportation risks after courts repeatedly favored enforcement over endless extensions.
Ninth Circuit Grants Emergency Stay
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a summary ruling in early 2026, staying a Northern District of California decision from December 31, 2025, in National TPS Alliance v. Noem. District Judge Trina L. Thompson had declared the Trump administration’s TPS terminations unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act. The appeals court’s action freezes that ruling, permitting Department of Homeland Security terminations to take effect. This upholds executive authority to end protections designated as temporary since the 1990s.
Appeals court rules Trump can terminate deportation protections for migrants from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua https://t.co/1VQJS2naBG pic.twitter.com/DWQTjEPJkO
— New York Post (@nypost) February 10, 2026
DHS Terminations Target Specific Countries
DHS announced TPS termination for Nepal on June 6, 2025, impacting about 12,700 holders following the 2015 earthquake. On July 7, 2025, terminations followed for Honduras, affecting roughly 72,000 since 1998 Hurricane Mitch, and Nicaragua, impacting around 4,000 from the same disaster. Secretary Kristi Noem cited improved country conditions, rejecting claims of arbitrary decisions. These steps align with President Trump’s mandate to enforce immigration laws strained by Biden-era extensions that turned temporary relief into indefinite stays.
Watch:
https://youtu.be/gWVudqMLkrA?si=LuY9ok7S2LtAsKbN
Timeline of Litigation and Enforcement Wins
A lawsuit filed in July 2025 by National TPS Alliance and plaintiffs like Jhony Silva and Sandhya Lama challenged DHS actions. District court paused terminations on July 31, 2025, pending hearing. The Ninth Circuit allowed an interim stay on August 20, 2025. Despite the district’s year-end summary judgment restoring TPS, the recent emergency stay overrides it. Administration argues decisions followed rational review, not political motive as advocates claim. This precedent bolsters broader efforts to dismantle abused programs.
Plaintiffs, long-term residents including essential workers, express fears of family separation and job loss. National TPS Alliance coordinator Jose Palma urges Congress to intervene, labeling holders as “heroes.” Legal teams from NDLON, ACLU, and UCLA criticize the stay as eroding rule of law. Yet federal courts affirm DHS process likely not arbitrary or capricious, prioritizing legal integrity over emotional appeals.
Impacts and Path Forward
Short-term, up to 88,700 individuals lose work authorization and face deportation, hitting sectors like healthcare and construction. Long-term, this sets the stage for ending other TPS designations, reducing incentives for illegal overstays. U.S. citizen children and employers face adjustments, but enforcement restores fairness for legal immigrants and citizens burdened by fiscal mismanagement. Plaintiffs vow appeals, possibly to the Supreme Court, as Trump policies deliver on securing borders and upholding sovereignty.
With illegal crossings at lows, these rulings affirm limited government and individual accountability over globalist open-door failures that fueled inflation and community strain.
Sources:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Permits TPS Terminations for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua to Take Effect
Breaking: Federal Court Rules Trump Administration Illegally Ended TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
Appeals court backs Noem move to end TPS protections for Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua
Temporary Protected Status Fact Sheet
Ninth Circuit backs Noem’s removal of protected status for Nicaragua, Honduras, Nepal
