Trump Administration Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Yemenis, Sets Departure Deadline
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration has terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Yemenis. The program had previously granted them temporary residency, work permits in the United States, and protection from deportation.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem explained that the decision followed a review of conditions in Yemen and consultations with U.S. government agencies. The review concluded that the country no longer meets the legal requirements for this status and that continuing the program conflicts with the “national interest” of the United States.
The administration has called on Yemenis covered by the program to depart voluntarily, offering a free travel ticket and a financial incentive of $2,600 per person for those who leave of their own accord.
The Department added that the decision will take effect 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register, providing beneficiaries a window to seek other legal options before deportation procedures are enforced.
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program is designed to provide individuals already residing in the U.S. with temporary protection from deportation and legal work authorization if their home country suffers from natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary events.
Approximately 1,380 Yemenis were beneficiaries of the program, which was last extended in 2024 and was originally scheduled to expire on March 3, 2026. Following this termination, these individuals will lose their right to residency and work, and may face deportation unless they obtain a different legal status.
TPS is a U.S. program that grants citizens of countries experiencing war or disasters the right to temporary residency and work within the United States while protecting them from removal. It aims to provide relief to those already in the U.S. when their home countries face exceptional crises.
It is worth noting that the Yemeni community in the United States is one of the oldest and most integrated Arab communities in the country. Thousands of families reside there, and hundreds have obtained U.S. citizenship, becoming productive citizens serving their communities.
