Honduran community welcomes the Consul General of Honduras in Los Angeles, María Fernanda Rivera. Image credit: Cancillería de Honduras.
Honduras TPS

Honduras TPS Update: Asfura Seeks Orderly Transition

Latina Republic

Latina Republic Brief | Honduras TPS Update

Honduras Shifts Strategy on TPS, Requests Orderly U.S. Transition for Thousands of Hondurans

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (July 1, 2026) — The Honduran government has shifted its approach to the future of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), moving away from seeking an extension of the program and instead urging the United States to implement an orderly, humanitarian transition for the tens of thousands of Honduran beneficiaries.

In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Nasry “Tito” Asfura asked the U.S. government to support “a reasonable and clearly defined period of orderly, predictable, and humanitarian transition” for Hondurans affected by the termination of TPS.

The request comes as Honduras acknowledges a changing legal landscape following recent U.S. court decisions affecting TPS authority and enforcement.

 

 

A New Diplomatic Approach

Rather than asking Washington to renew Honduras’ TPS designation, Asfura’s administration is seeking administrative measures that would:

  • Allow TPS beneficiaries time to receive legal advice and determine eligibility for other immigration pathways.
  • Give families an opportunity to organize employment, educational, financial, and property matters.
  • Facilitate voluntary, coordinated, dignified, and safe returns for those who ultimately must leave the United States.
  • Temporarily maintain employment authorization during the transition period to reduce disruption for workers, employers, and families.

 

The Honduran government emphasized that tens of thousands of Hondurans have lived and worked legally in the United States for more than two decades, contributing to the U.S. economy while raising families that often include U.S.-citizen children.

 

 

Proposal for a U.S.-Honduras Economic Partnership

Asfura also proposed creating a Honduras–United States Alliance for Employment, Investment and Shared Security, designed to prepare for potential return migration.

The proposal includes:

  • Expanding bilateral trade and investment.
  • Promoting nearshoring opportunities.
  • Strengthening logistics infrastructure, including Puerto Cortés and the country’s “Dry Canal” corridor.
  • Workforce certification programs.
  • Access to financing and entrepreneurship support for returning migrants.

The administration argues that many returning Hondurans possess valuable technical skills, English proficiency, business experience, and professional networks that could contribute to Honduras’ economic development if adequate reintegration opportunities exist.

Government Provides Updated TPS Guide

Separately, the Honduran government announced that its Embassy in Washington has released an updated June 2026 TPS Guide, providing information on eligibility requirements, legal rights, procedures, and available support resources for Honduran TPS holders.

Officials encouraged nationals to consult the guide for accurate and up-to-date information regarding their immigration options.

 

 

Current USCIS Status

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):

Honduras’ TPS designation officially terminated on September 8, 2025 following a determination by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that country conditions no longer justified the designation.

A federal district court temporarily vacated that termination in December 2025.

However, on February 9, 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that ruling while the government’s appeal proceeds, effectively allowing the TPS termination to remain in effect during litigation.

Employment authorization tied to Honduras TPS is no longer automatically extended under current USCIS guidance.

Key Points

  • Honduras is no longer publicly seeking renewal of TPS but instead advocating for a humanitarian transition period.
  • President Asfura requested continued temporary work authorization while affected Hondurans explore legal alternatives or prepare for return.
  • Honduras is proposing a broader bilateral economic partnership aimed at creating employment opportunities for potential returnees.
  • The Honduran government has launched an updated TPS information guide through its Embassy in the United States.
  • USCIS currently lists Honduras’ TPS designation as terminated, with ongoing litigation continuing in federal courts.

 

 

Honduran Government Issues Practical Guidance for TPS Holders

The Honduran government has also shifted its messaging toward helping TPS beneficiaries prepare for the current legal reality. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), Honduras published an updated July 2026 TPS Information Guide that provides practical guidance for nationals living in the United States.

The guide urges Hondurans to seek licensed immigration attorneys or Department of Justice-accredited legal service providers, avoid immigration scams and fraudulent “notarios,” keep passports and immigration records current, preserve documentation demonstrating long-term U.S. residence, and explore alternative immigration options such as family-based petitions, employment visas, or asylum where applicable.

It also advises beneficiaries not to work using expired TPS employment authorization, to prepare family contingency plans, understand their legal rights if approached by immigration authorities, and rely on official information from Honduran consulates and USCIS.

The document includes contact information for Honduran consulates, legal aid organizations, and government support lines, reflecting the administration’s focus on helping Hondurans navigate the transition while seeking lawful immigration alternatives where available.

 

 

Why It Matters

The Honduran government’s latest position signals a significant shift from pursuing an extension of TPS toward managing its practical consequences. For thousands of Honduran families who have lived in the United States for more than two decades, the focus is increasingly on obtaining sufficient time to seek alternative legal status, preserve family stability, and avoid abrupt economic disruption. The proposal also reflects Honduras’ recognition that, if large numbers of nationals eventually return, reintegration will require coordinated economic planning, employment opportunities, and bilateral cooperation with the United States.

 

Latina Republic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that tracks government initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean. We feature official updates on immigration, the economy, social welfare, environmental policy, and cultural stories, filling critical information gaps to highlight the region’s diversity, resilience, and wealth of lived experiences.

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