Trump Administration Ends TPS for Afghans and Venezuelans

The Trump administration is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of immigrants from more than a dozen countries, including approximately 14,600 Afghans and 350,000 Venezuelans. For roughly 50,000 Hondurans, the status is set to expire on July 5. The move removes deportation protections and work permits for individuals from nations affected by war or natural disasters.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem terminated the TPS designation for Venezuelans in February, arguing that their presence was contrary to the national interest. While the Supreme Court upheld the general cancellation of the 2023 designation, a court recently blocked the government from terminating the documents of approximately 5,000 Venezuelans whose status was valid until October 2, 2026. The court ruled that the TPS statute does not allow the Secretary to cancel documents already validly issued.

For Afghans, the termination scheduled for July 2025 threatens those who entered via Operation Allies Welcome after the 2021 Taliban takeover. The Department of Homeland Security stated that those fearing persecution can still request asylum. However, advocacy groups and refugees in cities like Bowling Green, Kentucky, expressed dread over returning to a Taliban-led government that bars women and girls from education.