DHS terminates Temporary Protected Status for 9,000 from Afghanistan living in U.S.

A protest was organized by the Taliban and their supporters outside the former U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 15, 2022. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that more than 9,000 Afghan nationals in the United States are facing deportation as the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Afghanistan is being terminated. The TPS for these individuals will expire on May 20, with the elimination of the program scheduled for July 12.

Noem stated that allowing Afghan nationals to stay temporarily in the United States is not in the national interest, as the security situation in Afghanistan has improved and its economy has stabilized, making it feasible for them to return to their home country. The decision to end the TPS program is also in line with efforts to combat fraud in the immigration system, according to Noem.

The TPS program offers temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals from countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other exceptional conditions. President Joe Biden initially granted TPS for Afghanistan for 1 1/2 years in May 2022, with an 18-month extension in November 2023. The U.S. completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, following a peace agreement with the Taliban.

Various refugee rights organizations have criticized the decision to terminate the TPS program for Afghanistan, arguing that the country is still under Taliban control and faces ongoing human rights abuses. The move has been condemned for potentially separating families and undermining America’s moral credibility.

Previously, the Trump administration ended TPS protections for hundreds of thousands of people from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela residing in the U.S. Legal challenges have been mounted against these decisions, with courts ruling against the administration in some cases.