The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan, ending more than a decade of deportation relief and work authorization for a small cohort of South Sudanese in the United States, according to a DHS notice and media reports.
The termination will take effect after a brief wind-down. A 60-day grace period means removals could begin in early January 2026 for those without another lawful status, Reuters and other outlets reported, citing DHS officials.
TPS shields nationals of countries in conflict or disaster from deportation and allows them to work legally. South Sudan’s designation, last extended through Nov. 3, 2025, is now ending after DHS concluded statutory conditions for the program are no longer met. Earlier Federal Register notices show the government had automatically extended the designation to Nov. 3 while it completed its review.
Advocates note South Sudan continues to grapple with instability and high levels of food insecurity; a U.N.-backed monitor this week warned that hunger and malnutrition remain “extremely high.” The administration has also pursued rollbacks of TPS for several other nationalities, though some terminations have faced court challenges.
Official TPS country pages and prior notices provide background on the program and its timelines; DHS is expected to publish detailed instructions for affected South Sudanese on work authorization and departure deadlines.
