US ends Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Ethiopia

This action is part of a broader reduction of the humanitarian immigration program. Somalia and South Sudan were the latest countries to be delisted, with their designations ending on August 14, 2026, and August 7, 2026, respectively. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services stated that former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined these countries no longer met the statutory conditions for TPS.

TPS offers temporary humanitarian protection, allowing eligible foreign nationals to remain and work legally in the US when conditions in their home countries, such as armed conflict or environmental disasters, prevent safe return. While TPS beneficiaries are protected from removal and can obtain employment and travel authorization, it does not lead to permanent resident status. The termination does not automatically result in deportation, as individuals may hold other lawful immigration statuses.

The USCIS also noted that TPS terminations for some other countries, including Ethiopia, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, are subject to ongoing litigation.