The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan living in the United States, leaving affected immigrants facing uncertainty over their legal status.
TPS is a temporary humanitarian protection that allows eligible nationals from designated countries to live and work legally in the US when returning home is considered unsafe due to conflict, disasters or other extraordinary conditions.
The programme does not provide permanent residency or a direct route to US citizenship.
The latest decision means eligible nationals from the four affected African countries could lose their protection and work authorisation if they do not have another valid immigration status.
However, the end of TPS does not automatically mean every beneficiary will be deported. Those with another lawful status, pending immigration applications or eligibility for another form of protection may still have grounds to remain in the US.
Countries Affected by TPS Rollback
The broader list of countries affected by the Trump administration’s TPS changes includes:
- Haiti
- Syria
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Nepal
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Venezuela
- South Sudan
- Myanmar
- Somalia
The administration’s latest actions form part of a wider effort to reduce the number of countries covered by the humanitarian programme.
Some of the affected countries have enjoyed TPS protection for decades because the conditions that led to their designation remained unresolved.
Somalia, for example, was first granted TPS protection in 1991 following the collapse of its state institutions and has remained under successive protections.
South Sudan and Ethiopia were also designated amid serious conflict and humanitarian challenges.
With the latest changes, affected nationals who lose TPS will need to determine whether they qualify for another immigration status or protection.
Those without another lawful basis to remain could eventually face removal proceedings, increasing concerns among affected African communities in the United States.
Source: US immigration policy announcements and reports on the Trump administration’s TPS changes.
