Trump Ends Temporary Protected Status for Afghans and Cameroonians

In a significant policy move, the Biden administration has decided to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians. The action, deemed necessary by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is based on the assertion that current conditions in these countries no longer justify protections. Affected individuals express deep worries about deportation and their uncertain futures in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has declared that thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians will soon lose their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a decision that is alarming many who have relied on this legal safety net for their residency in America. According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Secretary Kristi Noem found that conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon have improved to the extent that protective measures are no longer warranted.

Around 14,600 Afghans at risk of losing TPS are set to face deportation starting in May, while 7,900 Cameroonians will see their protections expire in June. This announcement coincides with a recent ruling from a U.S. judge allowing the Trump administration to deport a university graduate involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The TPS program was designed to provide asylum for nationals from countries experiencing dire circumstances such as war or disaster. Initially lasting 18 months, the status can be renewed at the discretion of the Homeland Security Secretary. McLaughlin explained that under the previous administration, an extension for Afghans was announced but has now been revoked following a federal review of conditions on the ground in Afghanistan, which saw the Taliban regain power nearly four years ago.

Similar actions regarding Cameroon’s TPS were taken early in April. The revocation of protections for these groups mirrors recent moves by the Trump administration to end legal statuses for a broad array of migrants, including those from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. These individuals benefited from a Biden administration program (CHNV) that has now been suspended, putting them at risk of immediate deportation.

Shukriah, a pregnant Afghan asylum seeker currently living in Washington D.C., shared her distress over the looming threat of deportation. After fleeing her home country and navigating through 11 nations with her family to seek asylum, she received an alarming email from DHS instructing her to leave the U.S. immediately. Shukriah expressed feeling overwhelmed and scared about her uncertain future and complicated immigration status.

Immigration policy has long been a contentious issue in U.S. politics, with mass deportation being a key agenda item for the Trump administration. Data shows that in the early days of his current term, Trump’s government quickly escalated deportation actions, at times exceeding previous averages under the Biden era.

Moreover, recent actions against international students advocating for Palestinian rights have intensified. The administration has targeted students connected to protests, such as Mahmoud Khalil, who has been detained and faces deportation based on his activism.

As conditions shift within the U.S. immigration landscape, the series of decisions overlooking the status of affected individuals continues to raise concerns over the future of many in precarious situations. Shukriah's experience underscores a growing fear within communities already facing significant challenges and uncertainty.