Just seven days before the deadline for the expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Hondurans living in the United States under this program that protects them from deportation and grants them a work permit, this community is on edge over whether President Trump will renew or end it to this immigration relief.

TPS for Hondurans expires on July 5, and 56,000 are in danger of being returned to their country, after almost three decades of living in the United States, if the president does not authorize the renewal of the program.

“People are very scared. We are talking about people who have been in the country for more than 25 years, built families, put down roots and paid taxes,” said Cecilia Rodríguez, leader of the Honduran Alliance of Los Angeles.

“As the expiration date for the work permits is approaching, many employers have begun to fire Hondurans with TPS because they do not want to get into trouble with the law.”

She said that normally two months before TPS expires, its renewal is announced, but on this occasion the president has not spoken or said a word.

“Hondurans with TPS are very worried. The situation is not very good in Honduras to return. So they are torn because no politician has publicly expressed their support for them. They are afraid of President Trump, especially after they removed Senator Padilla from a press conference given by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.”

Temporary Status for Decades

It was in 1990 when Congress passed the Immigration Law that established TPS to provide refuge to residents of some countries experiencing war or natural disasters.

However, the program has never established a path for beneficiaries to receive permanent residency or citizenship, which has condemned them to live under temporary immigration status for years and decades, depending on a work permit that they must renew and pay for every two years.

The only alternative it offers them is to obtain permanent residency through a family petition.

During his first term as president, Trump ended TPS for 400,000 people from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, and Sudan, but it was blocked by federal courts, so the program continued.

Upon his return in this second term, the Trump administration terminated protected status for Venezuelans early. A federal judge recently suspended that decision, allowing the Venezuelans to remain protected while the litigation continues.

Fear and Concern

Honduran Amilcar B., who asks that his full name not be used for security reasons, has been in the United States for 28 years, protected by TPS.

“I have a married son; and I live with my wife, who did not qualify for TPS. Therefore, she is undocumented.”

Not knowing what will happen with TPS keeps him in a state of anxiety.

“We are experiencing a lot of fear. We have a life in this country. I have dedicated myself to working hard. We pay taxes. I have owned a restaurant for ten years.”

For 27 years, Jesús Rivera has been protected with TPS for Hondurans. He is employed by a company, and in his free time, he runs his events business.

“I have two children, ages 16 and 13. A boy and a girl, born in Los Angeles.”

Since TPS was created, every time the renewal period approaches, unrest arises among beneficiaries, but this year, under the Trump administration, it is even greater.

“I am trying to stay calm and not let this issue take away my peace. There are worse things, like the pandemic and wars,” Jesus said.

But returning to Honduras is not an option.

“I have my trust in God. I am praying that He touches the hearts of the president and the team that advises him.”

There are no good signs

Juan José Gutiérrez, director of the Coalition for Full Immigrant Rights, said that the jury is still out, and we could wake up on July 5th to the news that President Trump will not renew TPS for Hondurans.

“It must be made very clear that although the Democratic Party and the House of Representatives are supporting the renewal, it is the president’s prerogative to authorize or not the extension of TPS.”

He said that although there is support from some Republicans, the final say is Trump’s, and he doesn’t care about breaking up families, or that many TPS holders have been in the country for decades contributing to the economy.

“If he denies Hondurans the renewal, we will be facing the clearest expression of a fascist state.”

Gutiérrez said it’s a bad sign that the Department of Homeland Security announced on Friday, June 28, that it was canceling Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, setting the stage for hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the United States to be deported.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said conditions in Haiti have improved enough for Haitians in the U.S. to return home.

DHS plans to cancel TPS for Haitians starting September 2.

“This decision restores the integrity of our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is truly temporary,” an anonymous DHS spokesperson said in the statement.

“Haitian citizens may apply for legal status through other immigration benefit applications if they qualify.”

While DHS states that Haiti is “safe for Haitian citizens to return home,” the State Department maintains that country under a “level four” designation that recommends Americans not travel there due to the risk of kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited medical care.

There are an estimated 348,187 Haitians with TPS in the United States.