This site tracked the TPS terminations in November 2025, when most were in force and several were tied up in court. The picture has since resolved, almost entirely in the government's favor. Pew Research Center's summary of August 12, 2026 puts it in one line: the administration has moved to end protection for thirteen countries, affecting roughly one million of the 1.3 million people who held it in March 2025.
The ledger
Terminated, no challenge pending, about 1,039,000 people. Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela under both the 2021 and 2023 designations, and Yemen. Venezuelans are 59 percent of those who lost protection, more than 615,000 people. Haitians, at roughly 335,000, are about a third. Hondurans and Nicaraguans had held TPS since 1998, after Hurricane Mitch; their grandchildren are American.
Terminated, briefly halted in court, now in effect. Ethiopia and Somalia, about 6,000 people between them. Both terminations took effect in mid-August.
Still designated, about 273,000 people. El Salvador, 170,000 people protected since 2001, whose designation and related benefits end on September 9, 2026. Ukraine, 101,000 people, protected through October 19, 2026. Sudan, 1,800 people, also through October 19. And Lebanon, 140 people, extended six months to November 27, 2026, the only extension this administration has granted. Every one of the four expires before the end of the year.
The litigation
The Northern District of California vacated the Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua terminations on December 31, 2025. The Ninth Circuit stayed that order on February 9, 2026, finding the government likely to win. Then, on June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Mullin v. Doe for the administration, holding that the Secretary's termination decisions stand. USCIS applied the ruling within weeks to unlock the terminations for Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Burma, Yemen, Syria and Haiti, which took effect between July 20 and August 18. The question of whether these terminations were lawful has been answered by the only court that could answer it finally.
Work permits
The rule this site stated in November has not changed: a TPS work permit becomes invalid on the termination date, not on the date printed on the card. Where a designation is extended, a Federal Register notice extends the permits automatically and states the new date. Where it is terminated, nothing extends them.
Two details for the countries still in play. For El Salvador, USCIS has mailed and posted individual notices extending expired TPS work permits to September 9 for people with a pending renewal; carry the notice with the card. For Venezuelans who received a permit on or before February 5, 2025 with an expiration of October 2, 2026, work authorization runs to that date under the terms of the Supreme Court's earlier order. Pew also reports that the administration has revoked authorization for some people whose status was still active, which is a reason to keep every notice.
What remains
There is no automatic route from TPS to permanent status; there never was. The options for a person losing it are the ones that existed before TPS and are harder now.
- Asylum, subject to the one-year deadline. A long-time TPS holder must show a changed or extraordinary circumstance; the maintenance of TPS until shortly before filing is itself a recognized one, provided the filing follows promptly. And since July 28, a late application can be referred to court without an interview.
- A family petition, where a citizen or resident relative can file, followed by adjustment of status where the person was inspected and admitted or paroled. TPS holders who traveled on advance parole may have that entry.
- Other humanitarian relief: U and T status, VAWA, cancellation of removal for those who end up in proceedings with ten years' presence and qualifying relatives.
The administration is separately offering payments to people who leave voluntarily. That is also an option. It is not one this site can weigh for anyone.
What to do
- Check the USCIS page for your country. Dates and re-registration windows have changed repeatedly and will again.
- Re-register in every window that opens. Missing one without good cause ends TPS regardless of the designation.
- File the alternative application before the status ends. A pending application filed while in status is a different case from one filed after.
- Keep the Federal Register notice or the individual I-797 with the expired card for your employer.
- Get licensed advice. The choices left are consequential, and the deadlines are days away.
Temporary Protected Status was created in 1990 to answer a real question: what to do about people who cannot safely go home but have no other claim to stay. Thirty-six years on, the program is nearly closed. The question is still open.