The United States has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Somalia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, a significant move affecting thousands of African immigrants living in the country. The decisions, announced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on August 14, 2026, are part of the Trump administration's broader review of humanitarian immigration programmes.
USCIS Announces TPS Termination for Somalia and South Sudan
According to updates published by USCIS, Somalia's TPS designation ended on August 14, 2026, while South Sudan's ended on August 7, 2026. The agency said the decisions followed reviews of conditions in the affected countries and determinations by former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that they no longer met the legal requirements for TPS.
In its notice on Somalia, USCIS stated: "The Somalia TPS designation is terminated, effective August 14, 2026." The same process was applied to South Sudan, with USCIS announcing that its TPS designation was terminated effective August 7.
What TPS Allows Immigrants to Do
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration programme designed for nationals of countries experiencing extraordinary conditions that make safe return difficult or dangerous. Eligible beneficiaries can receive protection from removal, apply for employment authorisation, and, in certain circumstances, obtain permission to travel outside the US.
However, TPS is temporary and does not provide beneficiaries with a direct route to permanent residency or automatically grant another immigration status. Once a designation ends, individuals may lose TPS-related protections unless they have another valid immigration status or qualify for a different form of relief under US immigration law.
Full List of Affected Countries and Court Challenges
The latest USCIS information lists several countries whose TPS designations have been terminated, including Haiti, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia. Ethiopia is also among the African countries whose TPS termination has been announced, although its status has been affected by court proceedings.
USCIS said some TPS terminations remain subject to litigation. The agency noted that a federal judge in Massachusetts stayed the termination of Ethiopia's TPS in January 2026 while the US government considered its next steps. Legal proceedings have also affected TPS termination decisions involving Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua.
The developments highlight the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing review of TPS designations, with court challenges potentially influencing when or whether some terminations take effect. For affected immigrants, the end of TPS could mark a significant change in their ability to live and work legally in the United States, particularly for those without another immigration status or form of protection.
