BREAKING: US Ends Temporary Protection For 12 Countries — See Full List

The United States has continued its review of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programme, with the administration ending the protection granted to nationals from several countries.

Among those affected are citizens of four African countries: Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon and Ethiopia.

The latest decisions followed reviews conducted by former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who determined that the affected countries no longer met the legal requirements for TPS designation.

A total of 12 countries are affected by the latest policy changes under President Donald Trump’s administration, reflecting a broader shift in the country’s humanitarian immigration policy.

According to updates published on the website of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Somalia and South Sudan were among the most recent countries to lose their TPS designations. The termination for Somalia took effect on August 14, 2026, while South Sudan’s designation ended on August 7, 2026.

In its notice on Somalia, USCIS said that after reviewing conditions in the country and consulting relevant US government agencies, Noem determined that Somalia no longer satisfied the requirements for TPS.

The agency subsequently announced that Somalia’s TPS designation was terminated effective August 14, 2026.

A similar decision was made regarding South Sudan, with USCIS stating that the country no longer met the statutory conditions required for TPS and confirming that its designation ended on August 7, 2026.

What is Temporary Protected Status?

Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration programme administered by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain temporarily in the United States when conditions in their home countries make it unsafe for them to return.

Such circumstances may include armed conflict, environmental disasters, epidemics and other extraordinary conditions.

However, TPS does not provide a direct route to lawful permanent residence or automatically grant beneficiaries another immigration status.

The termination of TPS also does not necessarily mean that every affected individual will be immediately deported, as beneficiaries may qualify for or pursue other immigration options under US law.

USCIS states that people with TPS may receive protection from removal, employment authorisation and, in some circumstances, travel authorisation while their designation remains valid.

Some Terminations Face Legal Challenges

USCIS also noted that the TPS status of some countries remains affected by ongoing court cases.

For instance, the termination of TPS for Ethiopia was stayed by a federal judge in Massachusetts in January 2026 while the US government considered its next steps.

The agency also said legal proceedings have affected TPS termination decisions involving Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua.

Full List of Countries Affected

The countries whose TPS designations have been terminated include:

1. Haiti
2. Syria
3. Yemen
4. Afghanistan
5. Cameroon
6. Nepal
7. Honduras
8. Nicaragua
9. Venezuela
10. South Sudan
11. Myanmar
12. Somalia