What comes next for the 1 million people who have lost – or will soon lose – Temporary Protected Status
Congress never built a path from temporary status to permanent residence, leaving many people facing deportation with little recourse.
In the United States, approximately one million individuals are currently living and working under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This humanitarian program, established in 1990, was designed to offer protection to people from certain countries affected by armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions, allowing them to remain in the U.S. and work while awaiting a resolution to their home country's crisis.
However, the Trump administration has begun terminating or not renewing TPS for several countries, leaving many TPS holders without protection from deportation and work authorization. As a result, these individuals may be forced to return to their home countries, which are often plagued by war, terrorism, or extreme violence. Many of these nations are currently listed on the U.S. State Department's "Do Not Travel" list.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that federal courts cannot review most challenges to a TPS termination, effectively barring judicial review of the decision to cancel TPS for a given country. This decision has left many TPS holders with little recourse and facing uncertain futures as they are forced to leave the country they have called home for decades.
Congress originally intended for TPS to be a temporary solution, but it did not create a pathway for TPS holders to attain permanent residency. Consequently, most TPS recipients are ineligible for permanent residency through other means, such as family ties or employment-based options. As TPS designations continue to expire, many individuals are left adrift, with no clear path to a more stable future in the United States.
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