As NAHB continues to work with Congress to find a way to extend expiring federal Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for over 300,000 individuals from nations including Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from terminating the program.

The TPS program grants provisional legal status to migrants who are unable to return to their home countries as a result of enduring crises such as health epidemics, war or natural disasters.

TPS individuals are legally authorized to work, with an estimated 52,000 employed in the construction industry. Many have been in the United States for more than a decade.

Since the administration announced it would no longer renew TPS designation for these countries, NAHB has continued to call on both Congress and the president to prevent the uncertainty and economic damage that would result from the loss of legal status for these individuals and ensure they can continue to reside and work legally in this country.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen issued a preliminary injunction so the merits of the administration’s plans can be considered. The potential harm to the immigrants — returning to their home countries after spending years here — outweighed any harm to the government, he said.

For additional information, contact Alexis Moch at 202-266-8407.