DHS Ends Temporary Protected Status for 12,000 Afghans in US

The Trump administration, through Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals, effective July 12, 2025. Noem stated that conditions in Afghanistan have improved sufficiently, with enhanced security and a stabilizing economy, such that the country no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS designation, and that allowing Afghans to remain in the U.S. is contrary to national interests. The decision is part of a broader effort to restore integrity to the immigration system, citing cases of fraud and threats to public safety and national security among some TPS recipients. Approximately 11,000 to 12,000 Afghans currently benefit from TPS, which was initially granted by the Biden administration following the Taliban takeover in 2021 to protect those fleeing conflict. The move has drawn condemnation from refugee rights groups and nonprofits who argue many Afghans aided U.S. national security efforts and face persecution if returned. Legal challenges have been filed against the administration's termination of TPS for Afghans, alleging violations of administrative and constitutional protections.