Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia lose US residency protection

In a move that signals a significant shift in the United States' humanitarian immigration policy, the administration of President Donald Trump has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Ethiopia residing in the US. This decision, which was posted on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website on August 14, marks the latest in a series of rollbacks of the TPS program, a temporary humanitarian protection that allows eligible foreign nationals to remain and work in the US when conditions in their home countries prevent their safe return. According to the USCIS, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that these countries no longer meet the statutory conditions for TPS after reviewing country conditions and consulting with relevant US government agencies. The USCIS alert states, 'After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that Somalia no longer met the conditions for its designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).' Similarly, it notes that Noem determined South Sudan no longer meets the conditions for TPS, with the designation terminated effective August 7, 2026. TPS beneficiaries are protected from removal, can obtain employment authorization, and may be granted travel authorization during the designated period. However, TPS does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or confer any other immigration status. The termination of TPS does not automatically mean that every affected beneficiary will be deported, as individuals may have another lawful immigration status or qualify for another form of immigration protection. The full list of countries whose TPS status has been terminated includes Afghanistan and South Sudan, while designations for some other countries remain subject to litigation. For instance, the TPS termination for Ethiopia was stayed by a federal judge in Massachusetts in January 2026, as the government considers its next steps. The latest decisions are part of the Trump administration's broader review of TPS designations, which has been a subject of controversy and debate.