Honduras president asks U.S. to analyze each TPS case individually

Honduran President Nasry Asfura has appealed to the United States to individually review the cases of Hondurans impacted by the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This benefit has allowed thousands to live and work legally in the U.S., but its end now places migrants at risk.

During a press conference, Asfura emphasized that U.S. authorities should consider the specific circumstances of each individual. "We have already asked the American government to analyze each case because these are people who have lived in the U.S. for three and four decades," he stated. He highlighted that many affected individuals have built significant portions of their lives in the U.S., describing them as "good people, exemplary citizens who work and have adapted and respected American laws."

The president also attributed some of the current uncertainty to U.S. immigration policies and the deterioration of bilateral relations during the previous U.S. administration. "The poor relations that Honduras had in the last four years are also a problem that led TPS to where it is today," he asserted.

The National Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras (Conadeh) reported that over 55,000 Hondurans held TPS when the U.S. government announced its termination. The organization warned that losing this protection could expose these individuals to detention and deportation. Honduras was initially designated for TPS in 1999 following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch, and the status has been renewed multiple times since then.

In preparation for a potential return of migrants, Asfura stated that his government must be ready to receive them. "We have to prepare, we have to welcome them here, if that is the case, in the end, to open the doors for them," he said. He also anticipates that returning Hondurans could contribute knowledge, work experience, and investments acquired in the U.S.