The Department of Homeland Security has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen, a decision that could affect more than 3,000 Yemeni nationals currently living in the United States.
According to a draft press release first reported by the Daily Caller, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined that Yemen no longer meets the statutory requirements necessary to maintain TPS designation. The decision follows a department review of country conditions ahead of the program’s scheduled expiration date of March 3.
“Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest,” Noem wrote in the draft statement. “We are prioritizing our national security interests and putting America first.”
A win for the rule of law and vindication for the US Constitution. Under the previous administration, Temporary Protected Status was abused to allow violent terrorists, criminals, and national security threats into our nation.
TPS was never designed to be permanent, yet… pic.twitter.com/3t8rDiUcvz
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) February 9, 2026
The change impacts approximately 2,810 current TPS holders and an additional 425 individuals with pending applications.
Temporary Protected Status is granted to nationals of countries experiencing specific extraordinary conditions, including ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other temporary crises that make safe return difficult. Yemen was first designated for TPS in September 2015 amid a protracted civil war and humanitarian crisis.
Under federal law, DHS must review TPS designations at least 60 days before they expire. Following its review, the department concluded Yemen no longer qualifies under the statutory criteria.
Yemeni nationals who do not have another lawful basis to remain in the United States will have 60 days from publication of the Federal Register notice to depart voluntarily. After that period, individuals who remain without legal status may face enforcement action, including arrest and removal.
“Temporary” Protected Status for 61,000 immigrants.
Hondurans and Nicaraguans were granted protection after a 1999 hurricane. Nepalese were granted protected status in 2015.
Temporary doesn’t mean decades.
Time to go home. pic.twitter.com/iXYj0MS1X5
— Adam Johnston (@adamkjohnston) February 10, 2026
DHS is encouraging affected individuals to use the CBP Home app to register their departure. The department says the app provides access to a free plane ticket, a $2,600 departure stipend, and the possibility of future legal immigration pathways.
The Yemen decision is part of a broader rollback of TPS designations under the Trump administration. In recent months, DHS has ended TPS protections for Somali and South Sudanese nationals. Officials have cited concerns ranging from fraud investigations to reassessments of country conditions.
Advocates for TPS recipients have historically argued that conditions in countries such as Yemen remain unstable and that long-term residents in the U.S. have established deep community ties. Supporters of the policy shift argue that TPS is, by law, intended to be temporary and that extended designations undermine the program’s original framework.
With the 60-day departure window approaching once formal notice is issued, affected families now face difficult decisions as the administration continues to reshape immigration policy.
