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Thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians will soon lose their temporary deportation protections, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced. The decision, which will affect 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians, follows a determination by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the conditions in both countries no longer justify US protection. This change will come into effect in May and June for Afghans and Cameroonians, respectively.
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is granted to nationals of countries facing dangerous conditions, like armed conflict or natural disasters, making it unsafe for them to return home. TPS offers protection from deportation and access to work permits. However, it is a temporary status, typically lasting up to 18 months, with the possibility of renewal. The Secretary of Homeland Security can end TPS if the conditions in the country of origin improve.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban's return to power in 2021 led to a significant shift in the country’s stability. A review by US officials concluded that the situation in Afghanistan no longer met the criteria for TPS. As a result, those who have benefited from TPS will lose their status in May. Similarly, the US has also decided to end TPS for Cameroonians, citing changes in the situation there. This decision was made on April 7.
The timing of these actions coincided with a separate ruling by a US judge, who allowed the Trump administration to deport a university graduate detained last month for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
The US government has also moved to revoke protections for other groups. Last month, the Trump administration announced it would end temporary legal status for more than half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These individuals entered the US under a Biden-era sponsorship program known as CHNV, which Trump suspended after taking office.
In a federal notice posted in April, the government reminded these migrants that their permits and deportation protections would expire on April 24. Many of them have been urged to leave the US immediately to avoid deportation.
The changing immigration rules have created fear among those who could be affected. Shukriah, an Afghan woman living in Washington, D.C., shared her distress after receiving a notice from DHS instructing her to leave the US. Shukriah and her family fled Afghanistan in 2022, enduring a long and dangerous journey to the US. Now, she fears the loss of her temporary protection could tear her family apart. "The fear of deportation has deeply affected my mental and physical health," she said. "I cry constantly from fear and anxiety."
Shukriah’s case highlights the uncertainty faced by many immigrants, especially those in precarious legal situations. She was granted parole under a humanitarian program, but her asylum case is still pending. As her deportation protection nears its end, she is unsure of the next steps for her family.
The Trump administration has made immigration a key issue, especially in its stance on deportations. In January, data revealed that 37,660 people were deported during Trump's first month in office. However, this number is lower than the 57,000 deportations during the final year of the Biden administration.
In addition to deportations, the Trump administration has revoked visas for hundreds of international students, aiming to reduce pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses. One case involved Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent US resident who was detained in Louisiana after participating in a protest. Khalil’s lawyer is fighting to protect his client’s right to speak out.
