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Temporary Protected Status is a form of immigration relief that provides temporary protection from removal as well as other benefits for nationals of certain countries experiencing hardship. This designated TPS period has generally lasted while the unsafe conditions persist in those countries. Unsafe conditions include civil wars or other ongoing armed conflicts, environmental disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and other extraordinary conditions that are expected to be temporary.
The Secretary of Homeland Security can designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals from certain countries, if they are already in the United States and cannot safely return to their country. TPS can also be granted to eligible stateless individuals who last resided in a country designated under this status.
Which Countries Does Tps Currently Cover?
Currently, Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador, Cameroon, Lebanon, and Ethiopia, are some of the countries still under TPS designation. Honduras was designated under TPS in 1999, but the country’s TPS status was recently terminated in September 2025. The Secretary of Homeland Security has also issued a notice to terminate TPS coverage for Venezuelans, and the Supreme Court has upheld this decision. Haiti’s TPS status, which has been in place since a devastating earthquake in 2010, is also in jeopardy.
What Are the Benefits of Tps?
During a designated TPS period, noncitizens who are preliminarily found eligible (prima facie) are protected from removal from the United States. They are also eligible for employment authorization to allow them to seek legal employment. TPS holders may also be granted authorization to travel abroad and return to the United States without losing their status. The Department of Homeland Security cannot detain TPS holders based on their immigration status, and they are free to apply for other immigration statuses or benefits, if eligible. However, being granted TPS does not lead to lawful permanent residency.
Can a Pending Tps Protect You From Deportation?
Noncitizens with pending TPS applications have often had their deportation cases administratively closed or terminated. More recently, this new administration has been re-calendaring prior deportation cases even for noncitizens with pending TPS applications, and they now face imminent deportation if they cannot secure lawful status in the United States.
It is essential to bear in mind that being in the middle of an immigration process does not protect you from deportation. This includes having a pending temporary protected status application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. You will only be protected from being placed in deportation proceedings or physically deported if you are actively under TPS designation.
What Can You Do if You Have a Pending Tps?
If you have a pending TPS application, you can request USCIS to issue a prima facie determination, which may protect you from being physically deported. However, USCIS has been challenging those requests. If the prima facie determination is denied, an immigration judge can order you deported, and ICE can then physically deport you.
If you are concerned about being deported while your TPS is pending, or if you have questions regarding another immigration matter, contact U.S. Immigration Law Counsel for a strategy session to discuss your case.
