The Trump administration has officially terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 14,000 Afghans and 7,000 Cameroonians in the U.S., a decision that will impact many migrants who have benefited from deportation protections. The change, announced on Friday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is part of the broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The approximately 14,600 Afghans eligible for TPS will lose their status in May, while the 7,900 Cameroonians will see their protections end in June. The move reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to restrict immigration and strip temporary legal protections, which have been a cornerstone of Trump’s policy since taking office.
Trump’s stance on immigration has focused heavily on reducing illegal immigration, especially under former President Joe Biden’s programs, which Trump has criticized for overstepping legal bounds. In particular, Trump has targeted protections for migrants from countries experiencing conflict or natural disasters, including TPS.
The TPS program, which provides deportation relief and work permits to individuals from countries facing extraordinary conditions, typically lasts for 6 to 18 months, with the potential for renewal by the DHS Secretary. In this case, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem determined that conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer warranted the protections.
The decision comes after previous efforts by the Trump administration to end TPS for several countries, including a failed attempt in 2017 to end the status for many migrants. That effort was blocked by federal courts, including a recent ruling in March that prevented the termination of TPS for Venezuelans, which a U.S. district judge criticized for its “racist” undertones.
The U.S. evacuated more than 82,000 Afghans following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, including over 70,000 who entered the U.S. under temporary “parole,” which allowed legal entry for up to two years. TPS was another form of protection offered to those fleeing the conflict in Afghanistan.
However, recent reports have revealed that migrants, including Afghans who entered the U.S. through the CBP One app during the Biden administration, are receiving notices revoking their temporary parole and instructing them to leave the country within seven days.
McLaughlin confirmed this week that DHS had indeed revoked some migrants’ parole, exercising “discretionary authority” but did not provide a specific number of revocations. Affected individuals are encouraged to “voluntarily self-deport” using the CBP Home App, according to DHS. This follows an earlier incident where incorrect revocation notices were mistakenly sent to Ukrainians.
As the legal battles over TPS continue, the future of deportation protections for thousands of migrants remains uncertain.
