The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a significant policy change that will impact thousands of individuals currently protected under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. Specifically, the protections for approximately 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians will be terminated effective in May and June, respectively. This decision, communicated through DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, follows an evaluation conducted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem determined that the situations in both Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer meet the criteria necessary for TPS designation.
Homeland Security’s TPS is designed to shield foreign nationals from deportation due to unsafe conditions including armed conflicts and natural disasters prevailing in their home countries. It offers beneficiaries a temporary reprieve from deportation along with the ability to apply for work permits. According to McLaughlin, the TPS for Afghan nationals had been previously extended until May 20 of this year by the former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. However, on March 21, Noem, after discussions with various U.S. government departments, concluded that the conditions in Afghanistan were sufficiently stable to justify revoking the TPS designation.
The situation in Afghanistan has been particularly volatile since the Taliban regained control nearly four years ago, which further complicates the living conditions for returnees. The same assessment led to the conclusion regarding the end of TPS for Cameroon, which officials announced on April 7. The implications of these terminations mean that thousands of individuals who have made their lives in the United States no longer have the protection against deportation that TPS previously provided.
In parallel with this sweeping policy change, recent judicial actions have raised further concerns regarding immigration in the U.S. A federal judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s ability to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident detained for his participation in demonstrations advocating for Palestinian rights. Critics of this ruling see it as part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has emphasized strict immigration control and deportation as central to its policy agenda.
The broader context for these changes includes not only the stalls in protections for specific nationalities but also the overarching shift in immigration policy priorities. Last month, the Trump administration signaled its intention to revoke temporary legal statuses for more than half a million migrants from various countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Most of these individuals were granted access to the U.S. under a Biden-era program known as CHNV and now face imminent threats of deportation.
Shukriah, a journalist from Afghanistan who fled her country after the Taliban took power, shares her experience, which reflects the deep anxiety faced by many TPS beneficiaries. With her parole set to expire, she received a notice from DHS instructing her to leave the United States. As a pregnant mother, Shukriah expresses fears of the potential impact on her health and her family’s safety, epitomizing the human toll of these immigration policy changes.
In response to these evolving immigration conditions, advocates and legal aid organizations are attempting to provide guidance to affected individuals. Information and resources have been made available regarding applying for extensions to stay in the U.S. However, with protections being dismantled, many face uncertain futures.
This systematic shift towards stricter immigration policies underlines the ongoing complexities of U.S. immigration law and the stark decisions individuals like Shukriah must navigate. As the conversation surrounding TPS and immigration continues, it is critical to consider the human stories underlying these policies, which often signify much more than the bureaucratic changes seen in legislative venues or judicial chambers.