Immigration Update | Update on Temporary Protected Status for Ten Countries
The Department of Homeland Security’s decision last week to terminate Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for nationals of Yemen brings the total number of countries losing TPS protection to eleven. Several of these terminations are currently being challenged in federal court, which has delayed their implementation beyond the originally scheduled effective dates. A table listing all countries whose TPS designations have been terminated since August 2025 appears below. Please note that yesterday's update did not include Syria.
TPS is offered to nationals of a country experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, epidemic, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent safe return. This protection allows individuals to live and work in the United States until circumstances in their home country improve sufficiently to allow for safe repatriation.
With regard to Yemen specifically, after reviewing current country conditions in Yemen, DHS has determined that Yemen is sufficiently safe and Yemeni nationals who have been living in the United States on TPS should plan on returning. TPS will formally end 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, meaning that TPS status and all related benefits, including work and travel authorization, will no longer be valid effective on or around May 2, 2026
Yemen was first designated for TPS on September 3, 2015 under the Obama administration based on widespread political violence that prevented nationals of Yemen from returning to Yemen in safety. The designation was extended six times, with the most recent extension set to expire on March 3, 2026. After concluding that conditions in Yemen have improved, the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that nationals of Yemen no longer need continued humanitarian protection in the United States. This termination is expected to affect about 1,400 to 3,000 Yemeni nationals currently residing in the United States under TPS.
Yemeni nationals with TPS must depart the United States by May 2, 2026 (this date will be finalized once the official notice is published), unless they obtain another form of lawful immigration status. Individuals departing the United States should report their timely exit on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Home App. According to the USCIS website, the agency is offering incentives to Yemenis benefiting from TPS to self-deport, including “complimentary plane tickets, a $2,600 exit bonus, and possible future opportunities for legal immigration.”
Given the high number of TPS programs that have been terminated this past year, along with the legal challenges to most of these terminations, we have prepared a chart, summarizing the recent developments for ease of reference.
The three remaining countries that benefit from TPS are:
El Salvador (expiring September 9, 2026);
Lebanon (expiring May 27, 2026); and
Ukraine (expiring October 19, 2026).
The agency typically announces its intention to terminate or extend TPS 60 days before the expiration date.
We will continue to monitor the TPS programs and keep you updated.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.