Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of nationals from South Sudan and Myanmar living in the United States has come to an end after two federal judges declined efforts to block the Trump administration from terminating the protections.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that TPS designations for both countries ended on August 7, leaving affected migrants at risk of losing their legal protection from deportation.
The development followed separate rulings by US District Judge Patti Saris in Boston and District Judge Matthew Kennelly in Chicago.
Saris rejected a case brought by an immigrant rights organisation seeking to preserve TPS for South Sudanese nationals, while Kennelly issued a similar ruling involving migrants from Myanmar several hours later.
TPS was established under the Immigration Act of 1990 to provide temporary legal status to eligible foreign nationals already living in the US when their home countries are considered unsafe for return because of armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances.
South Sudan was granted TPS in 2011 amid its civil war, while Myanmar received the designation in 2021 because of what the US described as “extraordinary and temporary conditions.”
DHS had initially announced plans to end TPS protections for both countries in November. However, the decisions were temporarily blocked by Saris and Kennelly.
The latest rulings followed a June Supreme Court decision concerning TPS protections for nationals of Haiti and Syria.
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, determined that federal courts did not have the authority to block the termination of TPS designations, clearing the way for the administration to proceed with ending the protections.
The decision is expected to affect about 4,200 South Sudanese and Myanmar nationals in the US, according to Reuters.
The termination comes as both countries continue to face serious political and security challenges.
Myanmar remains under military rule following the 2021 coup that removed the elected government and led to the detention of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
South Sudan has also continued to experience political instability and violence. In February, the United Nations warned that the country was on a “dangerous precipice” as violence intensified.
With TPS protections now terminated, affected migrants could face the loss of legal status and increased exposure to immigration enforcement and possible deportation.
