The Trump Administration Poses a Threat to TPS
Published May 2, 2026
The Trump Administration Poses a Threat to TPS
The Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance toward Temporary Protected Status (TPS), posing a significant threat to its continuation by seeking to terminate protections for many of the countries currently covered by the program.
TPS is an immigration status granted to immigrants from certain nations which are experiencing conditions that make it unsafe for the people to return to their home country. This may include environmental disasters, armed conflict, and other extraordinary conditions. TPS was created by Congress under the Immigration Act of 1990 to allow immigrants to safely remain in the United States, granting them both work authorization and protection from deportation while conditions remained unstable in their home countries.
Since his inauguration at the beginning of 2025, Trump and the Republicans have made it a primary mission to deal with the so-called “immigration invasion” and “migrant crime problem” in the United States. He has enacted a hostile mass deportation agenda that aims to remove any individuals who were not born in the United States. To add on, Trump has repeatedly spewed racist remarks such as labeling Somalis as criminals/fraudsters and claiming that Haitians eat their neighbor’s pets. These remarks highlight his clear racial animus against TPS holders.
The Trump administration has sought to eliminate TPS almost entirely. In Afghanistan and Cameroon, TPS has been terminated since July and August of 2025. The administration presently has intentions to terminate TPS in the following countries: Burma, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Honduras, Syria, South Sudan, Venezuela, and Haiti. However, Trump’s plans are currently paused under court order.
These country’s TPS statuses are set to expire this year: Somalia (valid until March 17), Yemen (valid until March 3), Lebanon (valid until May 27), El Salvador (valid until September 9), Sudan (valid until October 19), and Ukraine (valid until October 29).
The determination of which countries are designated as having conditions that do not allow the return of TPS holders is dependent on the Secretary of Homeland Security. The secretary is often required to collaborate with other government agencies like the Department of State, the National Security Council, and occasionally the Department of Justice when making the determination whether to designate a country with this status.
To be eligible, an individual must be a national of a country that was granted TPS and file during the initial registration or re-registration period. An individual must also be continuously physically present in the United States through the current designation date and continuously residing in the United States since the specific date listed for each nation. Those who have been convicted of a felony, charged with two or more misdemeanors, engaged in or incited terrorist activity, or participated in other criminal or national security-related acts are ineligible for TPS. Due to the required background checks, TPS holders are the most vetted group of immigrants in the country. To learn more about the application process, eligibility requirements, and maintaining TPS, visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The Current State of TPS
Trump’s endeavor to reshape immigration policy and enforcement has been carried out with a clear neglect for both constitutionally protected rights and the rule of law. However, courts are playing a significant role in adjudicating whether the Trump administration’s decisions align with the Constitution.
In Haiti’s case, TPS was set to expire on February 3. However, on February 2, a judge from the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia ordered a stay in Miot et al. v. Trump et al., blocking the Department of Homeland Security from eliminating TPS for Haitians. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also initially removed Burma as a nation qualifying for TPS, with the designation and other benefits set to expire on January 26. Yet, in the case titled Aung DOE et al. v. Noem et al., a judge in the U.S. Northern District of Illinois issued a decision on January 23 to stop the termination of TPS for Burma until there is a final decision in the case.
Organizations are fighting back against the administration’s blatant disregard of the nation’s statutes. They have played a critical role in bringing awareness to the issue and making efforts to protect TPS. National TPS Alliance, Communities United for Status and Protection (CUSP), Haitian Bridge Alliance, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Adhikaar, African Communities Together, Alianza Americas, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), CARECEN (DC), and CARECEN (LA) are all organizations engaging in the fight to protect TPS against the Trump administration’s attacks.
Why It’s Important
Since its inception under the Immigration Act of 1990, TPS has provided immigrants the opportunity to build new lives. The program has allowed millions the chance to get an education, build successful careers, raise families, and most importantly, live more securely. However, the Trump Administration continues to wage its war against immigrants, attacking the existence of this population that has provided valuable and essential services to the nation.
An end to TPS would be an injustice to the principles this country was founded on, more specifically, equality, liberty, individual rights, and opportunity. With over one million of our community members negatively impacted by the termination of TPS, it is crucial to object to the dismantling of these programs. Without TPS, millions face a loss of status and consequently, the risk of deportation and separation from their families. Those who have U.S.-born children face the exceptionally tough decision of bringing their children to an unfamiliar place or leaving them behind with family members in the United States. Preserving TPS is essential to providing humanitarian protections and maintaining family stability. As a nation, we must unite to protect our neighbors and fight against the termination of TPS. We must ultimately call on Congress to establish a formal path to permanent residency for these TPS holders.
by Alyssa Gamino
Action Steps
1. Sign petition to save Temporary Protected Status here.
2. Sample resolution for your union or organization here.
3. Call Congressional Representative Pelosi, and Senators Padilla and Schiff here.
Additional Material
1. Find Organizations Providing Legal Counseling here.
2. Supporting TSP Holders here.
3. Read about Root Causes of Migration here.