The United States government has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of four African countries, exposing thousands of immigrants to increased risk of deportation if they have no other lawful immigration status.
The affected countries are Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan, according to reports on the latest immigration-policy changes under President Donald Trump’s administration.
TPS is a humanitarian immigration programme that allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain temporarily in the United States and obtain work authorisation when conditions in their home countries make safe return difficult. The protection, however, does not confer permanent residency or citizenship.
With the termination of TPS, beneficiaries who do not have another valid immigration status could lose protection from removal and, in some cases, their work authorisation.
Four African countries affected
The latest terminations affect nationals of:
- Cameroon
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
The move forms part of a broader Trump administration effort to roll back TPS protections for several countries. Other nationalities affected by the wider policy include citizens of Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Myanmar.
The administration has argued that TPS is intended to be temporary and should not become a pathway to indefinite residence in the United States.
Deportation fears grow
The termination has heightened anxiety among affected immigrant communities, particularly those who have lived and worked in the United States for years under TPS.
Immigration experts note that losing TPS does not automatically mean every beneficiary will be deported immediately. Individuals who have another valid immigration status or qualify for another form of relief may remain in the country legally.
However, those without another lawful status could become subject to removal proceedings.
A recent federal court ruling also cleared the way for the Trump administration to terminate TPS protections for nearly 1,100 Somalis in the United States. The ruling followed a June Supreme Court decision that limited judicial intervention in the administration’s TPS termination decisions.
Wider immigration crackdown
The latest development comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration policy under the Trump administration.
The US State Department has cancelled more than 175,000 visas since Trump returned to office, while deportations handled by immigration authorities have also risen sharply.
For affected African nationals, immigration lawyers and advocacy groups are urging beneficiaries to establish whether they qualify for another legal status or immigration protection before their TPS expires.
The situation remains fluid, with legal challenges continuing over several TPS terminations.