FULL LIST: US ends temporary protection for four African countries

On August 14, 2026, the United States administration of President Donald Trump ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Ethiopia residing in the US. This decision reflects a further reduction in the humanitarian immigration program that permits eligible foreign nationals to stay and work legally in the US under adverse conditions in their home nations.

According to alerts issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website on August 14, Somalia and South Sudan were the latest countries to have their TPS designations terminated. USCIS stated that the decisions were based on former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's assessment that these countries no longer met the criteria for TPS.

Consequently, the TPS designation for Somalia was terminated on August 14, 2026, and for South Sudan on August 7, 2026. TPS provides temporary humanitarian protection to eligible nationals of designated countries already in the US, allowing them to remain in the country when conditions like armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances hinder their safe return.

Beneficiaries of TPS are shielded from deportation, can obtain employment authorization, and may receive travel authorization during the designated period. However, TPS does not lead to permanent residency or any other immigration status. The termination of TPS does not automatically result in deportation, as individuals may possess other lawful immigration statuses or qualify for alternative forms of protection.

The list of countries whose TPS status has been terminated includes Haiti, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Myanmar, and Somalia. Some other countries' TPS designations are still under litigation, such as Ethiopia's, which remains stayed by a federal judge in Massachusetts pending the government's next steps, and Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, whose statuses have been influenced by ongoing court proceedings. These actions align with the Trump administration's comprehensive review of TPS designations.