Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The American Center for Justice (ACJ) has sent a formal letter to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, calling for the maintenance of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals residing in the US. The request comes in light of the ongoing armed conflict and the profound humanitarian crisis currently gripping Yemen.
The Center emphasized that conditions in Yemen continue to meet the legal criteria set forth in the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. These conditions include active conflict, the collapse of state institutions, the deterioration of health and service sectors, and widespread food and physical insecurity—factors that render any forced return a direct threat to civilian lives.
The ACJ urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend Yemen’s designation as a TPS-eligible country to ensure legal and humanitarian protection for its citizens, citing a commitment to American humanitarian values and international human rights obligations.
Abdurrahman Barman, Executive Director of the ACJ and legal counsel, explained that while official statistics from September 30, 2024, recorded approximately 1,975 Yemenis covered by the program, that number has since decreased to roughly 1,380. This decline is attributed to several beneficiaries successfully obtaining Lawful Permanent Residency (Green Cards).
Barman noted that many other Yemenis remain eligible for the program, but their applications are still pending with immigration authorities. He stressed the necessity of expediting these decisions, given the dangers of repatriation.
The Center further highlighted that Yemeni beneficiaries represent a very small fraction of the total TPS recipients in the United States. As of March 31, 2025, approximately 1,297,635 individuals of various nationalities were covered by the program. According to the ACJ, these figures reflect the program’s vital role as a primary humanitarian protection mechanism within the U.S. immigration system.
