Mass Termination of Temporary Protected Status Across 11 Countries

What Happened

In 2025, the Trump administration terminated or initiated the termination of Temporary Protected Status for nationals of 11 countries: Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Syria, Somalia, Myanmar (Burma), and Ethiopia. Combined with the termination of CHNV humanitarian parole for 532,000 people, NPR reported that 1.6 million people lost their legal right to stay in the United States in 2025 -- the largest mass revocation of legal immigration status in US history.

TPS is a humanitarian protection granted to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that make safe return impossible. The affected countries span four continents and include nations suffering from armed conflict, gang warfare, political repression, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises -- conditions acknowledged by the US government's own agencies.

Country-by-Country Impact

Haiti (~348,000 people)

DHS terminated TPS on June 27, 2025, despite the State Department maintaining a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Haiti. The UN estimated that over 90% of Port-au-Prince was under gang control, and displacement reached 1.4 million people by October 2025. A federal judge blocked the termination on February 2, 2026, finding it "arbitrary and capricious."

Honduras (~72,000), Nicaragua (~4,000), Nepal (~12,700)

DHS terminated TPS on July 7, 2025. A district court initially paused these terminations, but the Ninth Circuit reversed the order on February 9, 2026.

Syria (~3,800)

DHS moved to terminate TPS for Syria despite ongoing civil war conditions. Courts have stalled the termination; the Supreme Court will hear arguments in April 2026.

Somalia (designation slated to end March 17, 2026)

A federal judge blocked termination on March 13, 2026, days before it was set to take effect.

Myanmar (~3,670)

TPS terminated November 25, 2025, despite the military junta's ongoing campaign of violence following the 2021 coup.

Ethiopia (effective February 13, 2026)

TPS terminated December 12, 2025, despite ongoing ethnic conflict.

The State Department Contradiction

The most striking feature of the mass TPS terminations is the direct contradiction with the State Department's own assessments. DHS claims conditions in these countries have improved sufficiently to make return safe, while the State Department simultaneously maintains "Do Not Travel" or equivalent warnings for many of the same countries.

For Haiti specifically, DHS claimed the "environmental situation has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home" -- a claim contradicted by every major international assessment of conditions in the country.

Economic Impact

Penn Wharton Budget Model documented that 550,000 workers lost legal status by the end of 2025, with significant economic impacts across healthcare, construction, food service, and agricultural industries that rely on TPS workers.

Why This Entry Is Rated Severe

• Unprecedented scale: 1.6 million people lost legal status in a single year
• Contradicts own assessments: State Department travel warnings directly contradict DHS claims of safety
• Mass refoulement risk: Returning hundreds of thousands to countries in armed conflict, gang warfare, or political repression
• No individualized assessment: Categorical terminations apply uniformly without evaluating individual risks
• Economic destruction: Half a million workers lost employment authorization, destabilizing families and industries
• Fragmented legal landscape: Courts have blocked some terminations but not others, creating chaos for affected populations