In a recent legal development, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump administration has the authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from Afghanistan and Cameroon. The decision, which came down on July 21, 2025, marks a significant moment in the administration's efforts to reshape U.S. immigration policy.
Temporary Protected Status is a form of humanitarian relief established by the Immigration Act of 1990. It grants temporary legal status to immigrants from countries afflicted by conflicts or natural disasters, allowing them to live and work in the United States. The status does not provide a path to permanent residency; individuals are expected to return to their home countries once the TPS expires, assuming they do not qualify for another legal status.
The latest court ruling affects approximately 9,600 Afghan and 3,500 Cameroonian nationals currently residing in the U.S. under TPS. The protections for Afghans were set to expire in early July, while those for Cameroonians were due to end in early August. The ruling was lauded by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who highlighted the win as a restoration of integrity to the U.S. immigration system and emphasized that TPS was never meant to be a permanent solution.
Critics of the ruling, including the pro-immigration advocacy organization CASA and the nonprofit AfghanEvac, expressed their alarm, arguing that the court's decision will have devastating human consequences. They pointed out the court's acknowledgment of allegations that the termination of TPS might have been "preordained" and politically motivated, adding that the legal battle is still not over.
The decision comes as part of a broader push by the Trump administration to end TPS for other nationalities, including those from Honduras and Nicaragua. DHS records have pointed to administrative investigations into Afghan nationals with TPS for issues related to fraud, public safety, and national security.
The court's ruling paves the way for the potential deportation of thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians, while the legal challenge against the administration's actions continues to unfold. The move has sparked debate around immigration reform, the role of TPS, and the balance between national security and humanitarian considerations.
