Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a government protection granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their country from adequately handling the return.
When can the DHS Secretary designate a country for TPS?
The Secretary can designate a country for TPS due to:
- Ongoing armed conflict (such as a civil war);
- An environmental disaster (such as an earthquake or hurricane);
- An epidemic; or,
- Other extraordinary and temporary conditions.
Who is eligible for TPS?
TPS can be granted to an individual who is a national of a designated country, has filed for status during a specified registration period, and who has been continuously physically present in the U.S. since a designated date.
What are the benefits of TPS?
During a designated period, TPS holders are:
- Not removable from the U.S. and not detainable by DHS on the basis of his or her immigration status;
- Eligible for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD); and,
- Eligible for travel authorization.
How many individuals are currently granted TPS?
As of March 31, 2025, the U.S. provided TPS protections to about 1,297,635 individuals from the following 17 countries.
When do TPS designations expire?
The DHS Secretary can extend TPS after a review of country conditions. A decision concerning an extension should typically be made at least 60 days before the TPS designation is set to expire. The Secretary can extend the TPS designation for a six, 12 or 18-month period or decide to cancel the designation.
TPS extensions only apply to those who already have TPS status. Foreign nationals who arrive after the designated start date (i.e. “required arrival date”) are only made eligible for status if TPS is newly re-designated for their country.
The number of TPS holders in the chart below may differ from the number of approved applicants in our previous chart (i.e. designation by country), because DHS provides updated TPS data when it posts notices in the Federal register.
| Designated Country | Required Arrival Date | Secretary’s Decision Due | Expiration Date | TPS Holders | TPS Eligible |
| Afghanistan | 09/20/2023 | 03/21/2025 | May 20, 2025 (termination effective on July 22, 2025) | 11,700 (~ May 2025) | 17,700 |
| Cameroon | 10/05/2023 | 04/08/2025 | June 7, 2025 (termination effective on August 5, 2025) | 5,200 (~ June 2025) | 10,000 |
| Nepal | 06/24/2015 | 04/25/2025 | June 24, 2025 (termination effective on August 20, 2025) | 12,700 (~ June 2025) | ~ 14,500 |
| Honduras | 12/30/1998 | 05/06/2025 | July 5, 2025 (termination effective on September 8, 2025) | 72,000 (~ July 2025) | ~ 76,000 |
| Nicaragua | 12/30/1998 | 05/06/2025 | July 5, 2025 (termination effective on September 8, 2025) | 4,000 (~ July 2025) | ~ 4,000 |
| Venezuela (2021) | 03/08/2021 | 07/12/2025 | Sept. 10, 2025 (termination effective on November 8, 2025)* | 252,825 | 323,000 |
| Syria | 01/25/2024 | 08/01/2025 | Sept. 30, 2025 (termination effective on November 21, 2025) | 6,132 (~ Sept. 2025) | 8,200 |
| South Sudan | 09/02/2023 | 09/03/2025 | Nov. 3, 2025 | 210 (~ 200) | ~ 280 |
| Burma | 03/21/2024 | 09/26/2025 | Nov. 25, 2025 | 3,670 | 7,300 |
| Ethiopia | 04/11/2024 | 10/13/2025 | Dec. 12, 2025 | 4,540 | 12,800 |
| Haiti | 06/03/2025 | 06/04/2025 | Feb. 3, 2026 (termination announced, but postponed by a federal court) | 348,187 (~ June 2025) | 474,000 |
| Yemen | 07/02/2024 | 01/02/2026 | March 3, 2026 | 1,380 | 4,000 |
| Somalia | 07/12/2024 | 01/16/2026 | March 17, 2026 | 705 | 4,900 |
| El Salvador | 03/09/2001 | 07/11/2026 | Sept. 9, 2026 | 170,125 | 232,000 |
| Sudan | 03/01/2022 | 08/20/2026 | Oct. 19, 2026 | 1,790 | 3,950 |
| Ukraine | 04/11/2022 | 08/20/2026 | Oct. 19, 2026 | 101,150 | 103,700 |
| Venezuela (2023) | 07/31/2023 | 02/01/2025 | Oct. 2, 2026 per court order (termination in effect between May 19 to Sept. 5, 2025) | 352,190 | 472,000 |
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*Note: According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Venezuela 2021 beneficiaries who re-registered under the January 17 extension notice now fall under the Venezuela 2023 designation deadline, which is October 2, 2026.
Venezuela 2023 and 2021 TPS Designations
On February 5, 2025, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem decided to terminate TPS protections for Venezuela under the 2023 designation. This move overturned a decision by the Biden administration to extend protections until October 2, 2026. On March 31, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco temporarily blocked DHS’ attempt to end TPS protections for Venezuelans under the 2023 designation, extending those TPS protections until the Biden administration’s original date of October 2, 2026 (NTPSA v. Noem). The Trump administration appealed the court’s decision. On May 19, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a procedural decision that the administration could proceed with ending TPS for Venezuela under the 2023 designation while legal challenges to the decision continue in the lower courts. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the district court ordered on May 30 that TPS beneficiaries who received an extension of their status on or before February 5 – when DHS announced it would end the 2023 designation – continue to maintain their status pending resolution of the litigation.
DHS announced on September 3 that the department plans to terminate TPS protections for Venezuela under the 2021 designation. The termination will be effective on November 8, 2025, 60 days after publication of the termination notice in the Federal Register.
On September 5, Judge Chen issued a final order on the merits of the case (NTPSA v. Noem). The judge’s decision blocked the Trump administration from ending TPS for Venezuela and Haiti, restoring the Biden-era TPS extension date of October 2, 2026 for Venezuela and February 3, 2026 for Haiti.
Following the court decision, USCIS clarified thatTPS protections for Venezuela under the 2021 designation end on November 8, 2025.This deadline applies to Venezuela 2021 beneficiaries who did not re-register under the January 17, 2025 extension notice issued at the end of the Biden administration. Venezuela 2021 beneficiaries who re-registered under the January 17 extension notice now fall under the Venezuela 2023 designation deadline (October 2, 2026).
Haiti TPS Designation
DHS announced on February 20 that Secretary Noem decided to amend the period of extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS from 18 months to 12 months, with a new end date of August 3, 2025. Noem stated that the decision restores TPS to its “original status as temporary” and criticized the extension of Haiti and other countries at the end of the Biden administration as attempts to “tie the hands” of the Trump administration.
On July 1, DHS announced that it would terminate TPS protections for Haiti, with an effective termination date of September 2, 2025. On July 15, a federal judge in New York issued a decision blocking the termination of TPS protections for Haiti until February 3, 2026 – effectively restoring the Biden-era TPS extension date for Haiti. In a separate case (NTPSA v. Noem), Judge Chen issued a final order that blocks the Trump administration from ending TPS for Haiti until February 3, 2026.
Nepal, Honduras & Nicaragua TPS Designations
On June 6, DHS announced that it would terminate TPS protections for Nepal. Separately, on July 7, DHS announced that it would terminate TPS protections for Honduras and Nicaragua. The terminations will impact approximately 12,700 TPS holders from Nepal, 72,000 from Honduras, and 4,000 from Nicaragua.
A federal judge on July 31 ordered DHS to pause the termination of TPS protections for Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua at least until a hearing on the merits could be held on November 18, 2025. On August 20, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the Trump administration to stay (pause) the district court order and move ahead with the termination of TPS status for the three countries.
Afghanistan, Cameroon, & Syria TPS Designations
DHS announced on April 11 that it would terminate TPS protections for Afghanistan and Cameroon, making more than 17,000 individuals ineligible to work legally in the U.S. and susceptible to deportation. The effective TPS termination date for Afghanistan is on July 15, 2025, and for Cameroon it is on August 4, 2025.
On September 19, DHS announced it would terminate TPS protections for Syria. The effective termination date for Syria is on November 21, 2025. Approximately 6,100 individuals are set to lose their TPS protections.
What will happen to TPS holders whose countries’ designations were terminated?
Once TPS protection ends, a TPS holder will revert back to his or her previous immigration status. For those without legal status in the U.S., they will return to an undocumented status and potentially be subject to removal proceedings.
Did President Trump attempt to end TPS designations in his first term?
Yes. President Trump attempted to end TPS designations in his first administration for several countries, including El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. These decisions faced legal challenges. While the court cases were ongoing, federal courts generally permitted TPS holders to maintain their protections. On September 14, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit allowed the termination of TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sudan to proceed. That decision was appealed and, once the Biden administration came into office in early 2021, settlement talks were initiated. On June 13, 2023, the Biden administration announced it was rescinding the Trump-era terminations.
Where do TPS holders live?
TPS holders reside all over the United States. As of March 31, 2025, the largest populations of TPS holders live in Florida (403,965), Texas (147,080), New York (98,250), California (79,320), and Georgia (50,110).
| TPS Holders by State of Residence | |||||
| # | State | TPS Holders | # | State | TPS Holders |
| 1 | Florida | 403,965 | 27 | Oregon | 5,670 |
| 2 | Texas | 147,080 | 28 | Oklahoma | 5,610 |
| 3 | New York | 98,250 | 29 | Wisconsin | 5,245 |
| 4 | California | 79,320 | 30 | Missouri | 5,095 |
| 5 | Georgia | 50,110 | 31 | Delaware | 4,840 |
| 6 | Illinois | 46,510 | 32 | Iowa | 4,055 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 46,360 | 32 | Louisiana | 4,055 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 44,825 | 34 | Kansas | 3,620 |
| 9 | Indiana | 34,575 | 35 | Washington, D.C. | 3,550 |
| 10 | Maryland | 33,680 | 36 | Arkansas | 3,490 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 32,420 | 37 | Nebraska | 2,730 |
| 12 | Virginia | 29,970 | 38 | Rhode Island | 2,265 |
| 13 | Ohio | 26,490 | 39 | Mississippi | 1,080 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 23,770 | 40 | Idaho | 1,060 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 20,200 | 41 | New Mexico | 1,025 |
| 16 | Utah | 20,100 | 42 | North Dakota | 940 |
| 17 | Washington | 18,065 | 43 | New Hampshire | 880 |
| 18 | Colorado | 16,570 | 44 | Maine | 715 |
| 19 | South Carolina | 10,655 | 45 | South Dakota | 670 |
| 20 | Connecticut | 9,460 | 46 | West Virginia | 510 |
| 21 | Minnesota | 8,460 | 47 | Alaska | 475 |
| 22 | Michigan | 8,095 | 48 | Hawaii | 400 |
| 23 | Arizona | 6,530 | 49 | Montana | 390 |
| 24 | Kentucky | 5,915 | 50 | Vermont | 215 |
| 25 | Alabama | 5,830 | 51 | Wyoming | 210 |
| 26 | Nevada | 5,825 | # | Other/Unknown | 5,805 |
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How do TPS holders contribute to our economy?
TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti contribute a combined $4.5 billion in pre-tax wages or salary income annually, as of April 2017. The total Social Security and Medicare contributions of those individuals is estimated at more than $6.9 billion over a ten-year span.
An estimated 130,000 TPS holders work as “essential critical infrastructure workers,” with more than 94 percent of TPS holders in the labor force as of 2017.
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Updated September 24, 2025
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