Trump Ends Protected Status for Thousands of Afghans, Cameroonians

 Trump Ends Protected Status for Thousands of Afghans, Cameroonians

The Trump administration has officially ended temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians residing in the United States, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This decision is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown strategy. An estimated 14,600 Afghans who were eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will lose their protections starting in May, while about 7,900 Cameroonians will lose their TPS in June. President Donald Trump, who took office in January, has emphasized his commitment to deporting record numbers of undocumented migrants in the U.S. He has also aimed to retract temporary legal protections for many migrants, further expanding the pool of individuals who could face deportation. See also:Iran, US to Start Talks on Nuclear Programme in Oman Amid Regional Conflict

Trump has criticized the high levels of illegal immigration during the Biden administration, arguing that Biden's immigration programs, which offer legal status to some migrants, exceed the legal framework. The TPS program provides protections to individuals from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary events. Protections are usually granted for 6 to 18 months, with the possibility of renewal by the Homeland Security Secretary, allowing recipients to stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation and to obtain work permits. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem determined that the circumstances in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer warranted the continuation of TPS. This announcement was made by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. See also:Columbia Activist Mahmoud Khalil Faces Deportation as Wife, Lawyers, and Protesters Rally for His Release.

During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump attempted to terminate TPS for multiple groups but was thwarted by federal court rulings. Recently, a U.S. district judge blocked his effort to end TPS for Venezuelans, stating that the government’s portrayal of these migrants as criminals was racially biased. In addition to TPS, the U.S. evacuated over 82,000 Afghans following the Taliban's takeover in 2021, more than 70,000 of whom entered the country under a temporary “parole” program allowing for legal entry for two years. TPS served as another potential avenue of protection for these individuals. In 2023, DHS had indicated that TPS was justified due to ongoing armed conflict and instability in Afghanistan.

In recent days, advocates raised concerns about migrants who entered the U.S. through the Biden administration’s CBP One app, claiming they received notices revoking their temporary parole status and instructing them to leave the country within seven days. McLaughlin confirmed that the DHS had revoked the parole of some migrants, stating that the department was "exercising its discretionary authority," although she did not disclose the total number of revocations. Affected individuals were encouraged to use the CBP Home App to voluntarily self-deport. These notices mirrored erroneous messages sent to Ukrainians the previous week.