The Trump administration has officially terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals residing in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Friday, February 13, 2026. This decision marks the latest in a series of immigration policy shifts by the current administration.
Secretary Noem stated that the determination to revoke humanitarian protections for approximately 1,380 Yemeni immigrants followed extensive review and interagency consultation. The administration concluded that maintaining TPS designation for Yemen conflicted with U.S. national interests, despite ongoing concerns about the country’s stability.
The TPS program, established to provide temporary refuge for individuals whose home countries experience natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary circumstances, has faced systematic reduction under Trump’s presidency. Administration officials have consistently argued that the program’s expansion contradicts American immigration priorities.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data, Yemen’s TPS designation was last extended in 2024 and scheduled to expire on March 3, 2026. The termination means affected Yemeni nationals will lose protection from deportation and work authorization privileges unless they secure alternative immigration status.
The decision comes amid ongoing humanitarian concerns in Yemen, where conflict and economic instability have persisted for years. Immigration advocates have criticized the move, arguing that returning individuals to Yemen could expose them to dangerous conditions, while administration officials maintain that the program was never intended as a permanent immigration solution.