US Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, Affecting 1,400 Nationals
In a significant immigration policy shift, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday the termination of deportation protections for individuals from Yemen under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. This decision marks the 13th country from which the Trump administration has removed this critical immigration safeguard, leaving only four nations with active TPS designations.
DHS Secretary Cites National Interest in Ending Protections
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a formal statement explaining the administration's rationale for ending Yemen's TPS designation. "After conducting a thorough review of conditions in Yemen and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, I have determined that Yemen no longer meets the statutory requirements for Temporary Protected Status designation," Noem declared in an official release.
The Secretary emphasized: "Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest. TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent. We are prioritizing our national security interests and putting America first."
Yemen's Protections Date Back to 2015
Yemeni citizens have enjoyed continuous protection under TPS since 2015, when the country was initially designated due to escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis. The approximately 1,400 Yemenis currently residing in the United States under TPS now face potential deportation as their protected status expires.
This decision represents a stark reversal from the previous administration's assessment. When former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas redesignated Yemen for TPS protection in 2024, he documented that the country remained on "the brink of economic collapse." Mayorkas wrote extensively about Yemen's protracted conflict, which had severely limited civilian access to essential resources including water, food, and medical care for over a decade.
Legal Challenges and Implementation Hurdles
The Department of Homeland Security has encountered numerous legal obstacles while attempting to terminate TPS protections for various countries. Court rulings have frequently challenged the administration's efforts, though these legal battles have not always resulted in favorable outcomes for TPS recipients. In several instances, beneficiaries were still compelled to leave the United States while litigation remained ongoing.
Understanding Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status represents a humanitarian immigration program that allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate foreign countries for protection when conditions temporarily prevent their nationals from returning safely. According to USCIS guidelines, TPS may be granted to eligible nationals of designated countries who are already present in the United States, including stateless individuals who last resided in those nations.
Consequences of TPS Termination
When the United States government terminates TPS for a particular country, beneficiaries face critical decisions regarding their immigration status. Legal experts outline that affected individuals must either adjust to another legal immigration status or prepare to depart from the United States. This transition process typically involves several steps:
- Receiving official notification from USCIS regarding status termination
- Adhering to specific deadlines for departure or alternative status applications
- Potentially facing detention or removal proceedings if no alternative status is secured
Available Options After TPS Ends
Even after TPS termination, affected individuals may explore several legal pathways to remain in the United States:
- Asylum Applications: Individuals who fear persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in particular social groups may apply for asylum protection.
- U or T Visas: These specialized visas provide protection for victims of certain qualifying crimes (U Visa) or human trafficking (T Visa).
- Family-Based Immigration: Eligible individuals may pursue lawful status through family sponsorship by U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Immigration attorneys strongly advise affected individuals to maintain copies of all official notices from USCIS or DHS and to act promptly to protect their immigration status through available legal channels.
