The United States is ending Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Yemen.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the protection will officially expire 60 days after the notice appears in the Federal Register. After that date, Yemeni nationals who rely only on TPS to stay in the US will lose their legal protection.
Here’s what this really means for thousands of people who have built their lives in America over the past decade.
Temporary Protected Status is a US immigration program that allows people from countries facing war, disasters, or crises to live and work legally in the United States for a limited time.
Yemen first received TPS on September 3, 2015.
At the time, the US government determined that the country was facing an ongoing armed conflict. Sending people back under those conditions could put their safety at serious risk.
Since then, the protection was repeatedly extended or redesignated. Renewals came in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. Each time, officials decided that conditions were still dangerous enough to justify temporary protection.
TPS allowed eligible Yemeni nationals already in the US to:
It was always meant to be temporary. But for many families, it became a long-term lifeline.
According to Secretary Noem, the decision came after a review of current conditions in Yemen and consultations with other US government agencies.
She said Yemen no longer meets the legal requirements for TPS designation. She also stated that continuing the program would not align with US national interests, adding that TPS should return to its original temporary purpose.
This marks a significant policy shift, especially after years of renewals.
Once the termination becomes effective, TPS protection ends.
Yemeni nationals who do not have another legal status, such as asylum, a green card, or a valid visa, will have 60 days to leave the United States voluntarily.
After that:
In short, the clock starts ticking once the notice is officially published.
The Department of Homeland Security is encouraging voluntary departure.
Officials recommend using the CBP Home app, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to report departure from the United States.
According to DHS, individuals who choose this option may receive:
Authorities say this is meant to provide a structured and safer way to leave the country.
The United States has moved to end Temporary Protected Status for several nations after reviewing country conditions. Affected nationals without another legal status may have to leave once protections officially expire.
Countries include:
For travellers and immigration observers, this move signals a broader tightening of temporary protection programs.
TPS was designed for emergencies. When a country faces war, natural disaster, or extraordinary conditions, it offers short-term protection. Ending Yemen’s designation suggests the current administration is reassessing long-standing TPS extensions more strictly.
For Yemeni nationals currently in the US, the key question is simple: Do you have another legal pathway to stay?
Those who do should consult an immigration attorney quickly. Those who do not will need to plan carefully before the 60-day window closes.
This is not a minor update. It is a major policy shift with real consequences for families, workers and communities who have relied on TPS protection for nearly a decade.
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