Trump administration ends deportation protections for Yemenis in US — what is TPS and what happens after termination?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday moved to end deportation protections for people from Yemen, the 13th country from which the Trump administration struck the status.The move left just 4 countries that the administration did not seek to end what is known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which bars immigration agencies from deporting nationals back to countries experiencing a natural disaster or civil unrest.Roughly 1,400 Yemenis currently in the US are protected from deportation under TPS.“After reviewing conditions in the country and consulting with appropriate US govt agencies, I determined that Yemen no longer meets the law’s requirements to be designated for Temporary Protected Status,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a release.“Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest,” she added. “TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent. We are prioritising our national security interests and putting America first.”Yemeni citizens were continually protected under TPS since 2015.When Noem’s predecessor, former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, redesignated Yemen for the protection, he wrote that the country was on “the brink of economic collapse”.

“Yemen was in a state of protracted conflict for the past decade, severely limiting civilians’ access to water, food, and medical care, pushing the country to the brink of economic collapse, and preventing Yemeni nationals living abroad from safely returning home,” he wrote in the 2024 designation.DHS continually faced roadblocks in court as it tried to lift TPS, though those rulings were not always helpful to the recipients, who in some cases were still forced to leave the country as litigation continued.

What is TPS?

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS, USIC.gov reported.

What happens when TPS ends?

When the U.S. government terminates TPS for a country, beneficiaries are required to either adjust to another legal status or prepare to leave the US, a legal group said. This process can involve:Receiving an official notice from USCIS.Having a deadline to leave the U.S. or apply for another form of relief.Potentially facing detention or removal proceedings if no alternative status is obtained.

What can you do next?

Even if your TPS has ended, you may still have options to remain in the U.S.:Apply for asylum: If you fear persecution in your home country due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.Apply for U or T Visas: These visas are available for victims of certain crimes (U Visa) or human trafficking (T Visa).Family-based immigration: You may be eligible to stay in the U.S. through family sponsorship by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.Be sure to keep copies of all notices from USCIS or DHS and act quickly to protect your status.