New York City said it’s backing a federal lawsuit to protect more than 60,000 immigrants at risk of losing their legal status.
The city filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in National TPS Alliance v. Noem, a case challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for certain immigrant groups. The brief focuses on Nepali, Honduran and Nicaraguan immigrants living in the city, officials said.
TPS protections are currently set to expire on Aug. 5 for Nepali immigrants, and on Sept. 8 for those from Honduras and Nicaragua.
The filing argues that ending TPS would harm local economies, public health systems and public safety, and would force many families to separate, causing “devastating human consequences,” according to a statement from the city.
“Generations of immigrants have built the New York City we know and love,” Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, said in the statement. “Stripping them of legal status and work authorization would not only be cruel, it would destabilize our city. We urge the federal government to act with urgency to protect families impacted by this, including passage of long overdue comprehensive immigration reform.”
Since 2022, city officials said, more than 111,000 migrants have applied for TPS, work authorization, or asylum with the city’s help. They also said more than 90% of eligible adult asylum seekers in the city have applied for or obtained work authorization.
“Temporary Protected Status holders are deeply woven into the fabric of our nation,” New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant said. “As detailed in this brief, abruptly ending their Temporary Protected Status will sow chaos among thousands of families and undermine the safety and economic well-being of the broader community.”
The brief was submitted by a coalition of 13 local governments, led by Los Angeles County. Other jurisdictions include San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago and Providence.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
