The United States Department of Homeland Security announced on Friday the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni citizens residing in the country, effective within a two-month period. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared the decision, asserting that continued TPS designation for Yemen contradicts national security interests and fails to meet statutory requirements for extension.
This policy shift compels approximately 1,700 Yemeni TPS beneficiaries to depart voluntarily or face potential deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities. The Department of Homeland Security outlined that affected individuals lacking alternative legal immigration status must arrange their departure within 60 days, utilizing the ‘CBP One’ application to coordinate travel arrangements.
The termination comes despite the State Department maintaining its most severe travel advisory for Yemen, classifying the country under ‘Level 4 – Do Not Travel’ due to extreme risks including terrorism, civil unrest, widespread crime, health hazards, kidnapping threats, and active landmines. The US embassy in Sanaa suspended operations in February 2015 amid escalating violence and has not resumed full services.
Yemen initially received TPS designation in September 2015 following the collapse of its government and the commencement of military operations by a Saudi-led coalition with US support. The program underwent regular renewals every 18 months, with extensions granted in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, and most recently in 2024.
The administration’s departure incentive offers $2,600 plus reimbursed airfare through the CBP One portal, mirroring programs offered to undocumented immigrants since May. However, reports indicate inconsistent payout distribution, with many applicants receiving no funds despite program promises.
Critics including Amer Ghalib, former mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan—home to a significant Yemeni-American community—denounced the decision as fundamentally contradictory. Ghalib, a Trump supporter and Yemeni immigrant, questioned the administration’s rationale: ‘If Yemen remains unsafe for American travelers, how can it be deemed safe for returning Yemenis facing potential militia persecution?’
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen persists amid ongoing conflict, with Pentagon airstrikes against Houthi targets continuing through last year and Israeli strikes killing numerous Yemeni journalists. Deportation carries a mandatory 10-year reentry ban, creating permanent separation from family members remaining in the United States.