Homeland Security Ends Temporary Protected Status for Yemen Citizens

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni citizens residing in the U.S. This change will take place 60 days after the official notice appears in the Federal Register.

Approximately 1,400 individuals will be affected by this termination.

In an announcement made by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the humanitarian protection that previously prevented the deportation of Yemeni nationals and allowed them to work legally will come to an end. This decision was based on a review of the conditions in Yemen, where DHS believes the situation no longer meets the criteria for TPS designation. The Trump administration had indicated that this move is in line with national security goals and aims to restore the temporary essence of TPS.

During the two-month transition, work authorizations linked to TPS will still be valid. After this period, Yemeni nationals lacking any other lawful immigration status are expected to leave the U.S. voluntarily.

“After reviewing conditions in the country and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, I determined that Yemen no longer meets the law’s requirements to be designated for Temporary Protected Status,” Secretary Noem said in a statement. “Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest. TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent. We are prioritizing our national security interests and putting America first.”

Yemen has had TPS since September 3, 2015, primarily due to ongoing armed conflicts making it unsafe for returning nationals. The DHS had extended the designation multiple times since then.

According to the latest termination notice, Yemeni nationals without another legal immigration status have 60 days, starting from Friday, to leave the United States voluntarily. To help facilitate this departure, the DHS encourages individuals to use the CBP One app to report their exit. Those who comply within the designated timeframe may qualify for a complimentary flight, a $2,600 exit bonus, and potential pathways for future legal immigration.

The DHS is also in the process of ending TPS for citizens from Venezuela and Haiti, but the situations for each group are quite different legally. Recently, a federal judge in D.C. temporarily blocked termination for Haitians. On the other hand, for Venezuelans, a Supreme Court stay has permitted the administration to proceed with ending protections, despite a recent ruling by an appeals court deeming the termination unlawful.

“After the effective date of the termination, the Department of Homeland Security may arrest and deport any Yemeni national without status once their TPS has ended,” the department stated. “If an alien forces DHS to arrest and remove them, they may never be allowed to return to the United States.”