New York City is lending its support to a federal lawsuit aimed at protecting more than 60,000 immigrants who could lose their legal status, city officials announced.
The city submitted an amicus brief in National TPS Alliance v. Noem, a case that challenges a decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status, known as TPS, for certain immigrant groups. Officials said the filing centers on Nepali, Honduran and Nicaraguan immigrants who live in the city.
Under the current schedule, protections for Nepali immigrants are set to expire on Aug. 5, while those for people from Honduras and Nicaragua are due to end on Sept. 8.
According to a city statement, the brief argues that terminating TPS would hurt local economies, public health systems and public safety. It also says the move would force many families apart, with what the statement called "devastating human consequences."
Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, said in the statement that "generations of immigrants have built the New York City we know and love." He added that removing legal status and work authorization "would not only be cruel, it would destabilize our city." Castro urged the federal government to act with urgency to protect affected families, including by passing long overdue comprehensive immigration reform.
City officials also pointed to the scale of its assistance work. Since 2022, more than 111,000 migrants have applied for TPS, work authorization or asylum with the city's help, they said. They added that over 90% of eligible adult asylum seekers in the city have either applied for or received work authorization.
New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant said TPS holders are "deeply woven into the fabric of our nation." She said that, as the brief details, ending their status abruptly "will sow chaos among thousands of families and undermine the safety and economic well-being of the broader community."
The brief was filed by a coalition of 13 local governments led by Los Angeles County. Other participating jurisdictions include San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago and Providence.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
