The United States Government has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon and Ethiopia living in the country.
The decision is part of the Trump administration’s broader review of the humanitarian immigration programme, which allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain and work legally in the US when conditions in their home countries make it unsafe for them to return.
According to updates from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Somalia and South Sudan are the latest countries to have their TPS designations terminated. Somalia’s designation ended on August 14, 2026, while South Sudan’s ended on August 7, 2026.
The USCIS said the decisions followed reviews of conditions in the two countries and consultations with relevant US government agencies. Former Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, determined that Somalia and South Sudan no longer met the statutory conditions required for continued TPS protection.
TPS is a temporary humanitarian protection granted to eligible nationals of certain countries already living in the United States. It may be provided when armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances make it unsafe for nationals to return home.
Beneficiaries of TPS are generally protected from removal and may obtain employment authorisation. They may also be granted travel authorisation during the period their country is designated for TPS.
However, TPS does not automatically provide permanent residency or any other permanent immigration status.
The termination of TPS also does not mean that every affected person will automatically be deported. Some beneficiaries may have another lawful immigration status or qualify for another form of immigration protection.
Countries Whose TPS Has Been Terminated
The USCIS listed the following countries whose TPS designations have been terminated:
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
The agency, however, noted that the status of some TPS terminations remains affected by ongoing court cases.
For instance, the termination of Ethiopia’s TPS was stayed by a federal judge in Massachusetts in January 2026 while the US Government considered its next steps. Court proceedings have also affected TPS terminations involving Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua.
The latest decisions are part of the Trump administration’s wider review of TPS designations for countries whose nationals have been allowed temporary protection in the United States.
The changes could affect thousands of African nationals who have relied on TPS to live and work legally in the US, although their individual immigration circumstances will determine what options remain available to them.
