What Happened?

More than 1.1 million immigrants who had legal permission to live and work in the U.S. have lost that protection after the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 13 of the 17 countries that held it at the beginning of President Trump's second term. The Congressional Research Service documented the terminations of Temporary Protected Status in a report titled "Temporary Protected Status Terminations, 2025-2026." ​

Congress created Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 1990 to give safe haven to people from countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

The 13 terminated designations covered approximately 1,103,390 people, about 76 percent of the roughly 1.45 million total TPS beneficiaries. Venezuela alone accounts for 627,750 of the 1,103,390 beneficiaries in terminated designations across two designations ended in April and November 2025.

Four countries still have active designations, covering 343,800 people:

  • El Salvador: 224,070 beneficiaries
  • Ukraine: 117,170 beneficiaries
  • Sudan: 2,020 beneficiaries
  • Lebanon: 540 beneficiaries

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told CRS that Salvadoran, Sudanese, and Ukrainian TPS holders retain their protection, including work authorization, until a further announcement. Lebanon's designation expires Nov. 27.

Both Sides, Now

The Trump administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status for 13 of the 17 countries that held designations when Trump took office in January 2025. Supporters of the terminations argue the program should be temporary, not a path to indefinite residency.

Opponents say some terminated countries remain dangerous. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported in June 2025 that nearly 1.3 million people were internally displaced in Haiti, a 24 percent increase since December 2024, amid spreading gang violence. IOM also reported that more than 207,000 deported Haitians had returned since January 2025 to a country where gang violence had escalated.

CRS notes that several terminations were challenged in court and that litigation delayed their effective dates.

What Happens Next?

For El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine, DHS has said protections remain in place until a further announcement, leaving the end date open.

Any permanent change to TPS rules would require Congress to pass new legislation and send it to the president to sign. Will Congress act before more designations lapse, or will the remaining 343,800 beneficiaries face the same outcome as the 1.1 million who have already lost their status?

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