Approximately 1,400 Yemenis currently covered under TPS will have 60 days to depart or secure another lawful status.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that it is terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen, ending deportation protections that have been in place since 2015 for approximately 1,400 Yemeni nationals living in the United States.
Yemen was originally designated for TPS more than a decade ago due to what DHS described as “an ongoing armed conflict.” The designation has been repeatedly extended since then. According to The Hill, Yemenis have remained protected from deportation under the program continuously since 2015.
In a formal notice, DHS said the TPS designation for Yemen will expire in 60 days. After that period, individuals who do not have another lawful basis to remain in the United States will no longer be shielded from removal.
The department stated that Yemenis currently benefiting from TPS who lack another legal immigration status are encouraged to voluntarily depart the country within the 60-day window. DHS said individuals may use the CBP Home app to report self-deportation, which includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $2,600 exit bonus and potential future opportunities for legal immigration.
Once the 60-day period ends, DHS indicated it may arrest and deport individuals who remain in the country without legal status.
“After reviewing conditions in the country and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, I determined that Yemen no longer meets the law’s requirements to be designated for Temporary Protected Status,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
“Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest. TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent. We are prioritizing our national security interests and putting America first.”
Temporary Protected Status is granted to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions that prevent safe return. The program does not provide a pathway to permanent residency but allows recipients to remain and work legally in the United States for the duration of the designation.
The announcement marks the end of more than ten years of TPS coverage for Yemeni nationals.
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