Goodbye to work permits: These nationalities will no longer have TPS in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 22,000 immigrants, stripping them of legal work authorization and protection from deportation.

TPS, a humanitarian program created by Congress in 1990, allows nationals from certain countries to live and work in the United States if their home country is facing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary conditions. While TPS is temporary—granted for 6, 12, or 18 months—it is often renewed based on evolving conditions.

Currently, approximately one million immigrants from 17 countries live in the U.S. under TPS. But now, thousands are facing a major shift in their immigration status.

Which nationalities are losing TPS protection?

The DHS has revoked TPS for nationals of Afghanistan and Cameroon, impacting an estimated 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians, according to numbers reported by Reuters.

The decision came after a joint review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the State Department. The conclusion? “The Secretary determined that Afghanistan no longer continues to meet the statutory requirements for its TPS designation and so she terminated TPS for Afghanistan,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin in a statement to Fox News Digital.

This means thousands of individuals—many of whom fled war zones or humanitarian crises—may soon lose the legal ability to live and work in the U.S.

Backlash from advocacy groups

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocacy organizations, particularly those supporting Afghan allies.

Groups such as #AfghanEvac and No One Left Behind described the decision as “cruel,” “chaotic,” and a betrayal of America’s promises to those who supported U.S. military efforts abroad.

“[This move] undermines everything America claimed to stand for when we promised not to leave our allies behind,” said Shawn VanDriver, a military veteran and the president of #AfghanEvac.

Are other nationalities at risk too?

Yes. Afghan and Cameroonian nationals aren’t the only ones on the government’s radar.

President Donald Trump’s administration had previously attempted to roll back TPS for other groups, and recently, Republican leaders pushed to end protections for Venezuelan immigrants as well.

Former President Biden had extended TPS for Venezuelans—but in a recent twist, a federal judge temporarily blocked efforts to rescind that protection, giving thousands of Venezuelans more time under TPS, for now.

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