In a notice published in the Federal Register on September 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Syria will be terminated, effective November 21, 2025.
Quick Hits
- On September 22, 2025, DHS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the termination of the TPS designation for Syria, effective November 21, 2025.
- The TPS designation was created to provide temporary status to foreign nationals in the United States unable to return to their home countries due to events or circumstances present in the countries, such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions.
- The announcement continues the increasing trend of terminating countries' TPS designations.
On September 22, 2025, DHS announced that the TPS designation for Syria will be terminated, effective November 21, 2025. This continues a trend of TPS terminations, following Honduras's and Nicaragua's expirations earlier in September 2025.
The TPS designation was created to provide temporary status to foreign nationals in the United States unable to return to their home countries due to events or circumstances present in the countries, such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. During the designated TPS period, TPS beneficiaries are not removable from the United States, can obtain work authorization (EAD), and can apply for travel authorization. DHS regulations require that any rescission of TPS benefits be accompanied by a sixty-day notice period.
Recently, DHS has terminated TPS programs for several countries, reducing the number of eligible countries from sixteen to nine. Additionally, the budget reconciliation bill known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" ("OBBBA"), signed into law on July 4, 2025, introduced new work authorization limits for TPS holders, limiting their initial employment authorization to either one year or the duration of the TPS designation period, whichever is shorter. Employees with I-765 applications pending or filed on or after July 22, 2025, are no longer eligible for automatic extensions.
TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain countries may be automatically extended through the publication of a Federal Register notice (FRN) for a specific TPS-designated country. If an FRN automatically extends a country's TPS-based EAD cards, employees can present their expired EAD cards as proof of identity and work authorization for the duration of the extension period specified in the FRN. An employee may not be issued a new EAD. USCIS may also grant an automatic extension of a TPS-based EAD by sending an individual notice to the employee. An employee can present the USCIS-provided notice along with the employee's facially valid, expired, or expiring EAD card as proof of identity and employment authorization for the duration of the period listed on the notice.
As of September 2024, approximately one million individuals were living in the United States under TPS designation.
Please see the tables below for an update on both active and terminated TPS Programs, as of September 25, 2025.
Active TPS Programs
| TPS Program | Current Status | Work Authorization Validity Date | Most Recent Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burma (Myanmar) | TPS status designated through November 25, 2025. | May 25, 2025. | Extension and redesignation of TPS announced in Federal Register on March 25, 2024. |
| El Salvador | TPS status designated through September 9, 2026. | March 9, 2026. | Extension and redesignation of TPS announced in Federal Register on January 17, 2025. |
| Ethiopia | TPS status designated through December 12, 2025. | December 12, 2025. | Extension and redesignation of TPS announced in Federal Register on April 15, 2024. |
| Lebanon | TPS status designated through May 27, 2026. | Initial TPS registration is effective through May 27, 2026. | TPS designation announced in Federal Register on November 27, 2024. |
| Somalia | TPS status designated through March 17, 2026. | September 17, 2025. | Extension and redesignation of TPS announced in Federal Register on July 22, 2024. |
| South Sudan | TPS status designated through November 3, 2025. | November 3, 2025. | Extension of TPS designation announced in Federal Register on May 6, 2025. |
| Sudan | TPS status designated through October 19, 2026. | April 19, 2026. | Extension of TPS designation announced in Federal Register on January 17, 2025. |
| Ukraine | TPS status designated through October 19, 2026. | April 19, 2026. | Extension of TPS designation announced in Federal Register on January 17, 2025. |
| Yemen | TPS status designated through March 3, 2026. | September 3, 2025. | Extension of TPS designation announced in Federal Register on July 10, 2024. |
Terminated TPS Programs
| TPS Program | Current Status | Final EAD Validity Date | Most Recent Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Termination announced May 13, 2025. | July 14, 2025 | TPS benefits terminated on July 14, 2025. |
| Cameroon | Termination announced June 4, 2025. | August 4, 2025 | TPS benefits terminated on August 4, 2025. |
| Haiti | Termination announced July 1, 2025. | February 3, 2026 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York confirmed the original extension published in July 2024. On July 15, 2025, the court held TPS Haiti cannot be terminated prior to February 3, 2026. This decision was appealed by the government on September 25, 2025. |
| Honduras | Termination announced July 8, 2025. | September 8, 2025 | Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the September 8, 2025, termination date to go into effect. Case remains subject to ongoing litigation. |
| Nepal | Termination announced June 6, 2025. | August 20, 2025 | Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the termination date to go into effect. Case remains subject to ongoing litigation. |
| Nicaragua | Termination announced July 8, 2025. | September 8, 2025 | Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the September 8, 2025, termination date to go into effect. Case remains subject to ongoing litigation. |
| Syria | Termination announced September 19, 2025. | November 21, 2025 | TPS benefits terminate on November 21, 2025. |
| Venezuela (2021 Designation) | Termination date: November 7, 2025. | November 7, 2025 | TPS benefits terminate on November 7, 2025. |
| Venezuela (2023 Designation) *Also includes beneficiaries who reregistered under the January 17, 2025, extension notice. | Termination date: October 2, 2026, per court order, subject to litigation updates. | April 2, 2026 | TPS benefits terminate on October 2, 2026. Pending federal litigation. |
Next Steps
Humanitarian-based EAD programs, including TPS, are subject to frequent updates, and it is important for employers to stay informed. An internal protocol for tracking updates and monitoring compliance is recommended.
Reviewing ongoing compliance requirements and understanding I-9 documentation obligations remain the most proactive methods for ensuring employers remain compliant. A Status Change Report is available for E-Verify employers through the E-Verify system to monitor rescission of EADs under humanitarian programs that were valid when E-Verify was initially completed.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
