Alanis Rodriguez, 15, of Canovanos, Puerto Rico, and 14-year-old Bethel Sanchez, of Isabela, Puerto Rico, spend time together in a hotel lobby in Dedham, Mass. where they have lived temporarily after Hurricane Maria hit the island in September,  Feb. 27, 2018.
Alanis Rodriguez, 15, of Canovanos, Puerto Rico, and 14-year-old Bethel Sanchez, of Isabela, Puerto Rico, spend time together in a hotel lobby in Dedham, Mass. where they have lived temporarily after Hurricane Maria hit the island in September,  Feb. 27, 2018. Credit: AP PHOTO/Steven Senne

BOSTON — Nearly 1,700 Puerto Rican hurricane evacuee families living in hotels across the U.S. can stay there through at least July 23.

Judge Timothy Hillman of Massachusetts’ federal court granted the extension Tuesday. He says a restraining order temporarily blocking their evictions from the hotels will remain until at least midnight July 23, allowing them to stay until checkout time the following day.

Hillman’s decision extends the restraining order put in place Saturday by Judge Leo Sorokin.

The program has paid for hotel stays for thousands of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria last September. The vouchers were supposed to expire last Sunday, meaning the evacuees could have been evicted from the hotels.

Hillman says he wants to look into the issue further and will decide whether another hearing is necessary.