Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, lets nationals of certain countries stay in the United States and work when their country faces conflict or a serious crisis. In 2026, several African countries lost this status. Here is where each country stands, based on the official USCIS page (the U.S. immigration service), updated September 9, 2026.
Country by country
- Ethiopia: TPS ended on August 18, 2026. The termination notice was published on December 15, 2025 (90 FR 58028). The designation ran through February 13, 2026 (USCIS page).
- Somalia: TPS ended on August 14, 2026. The notice was published on January 14, 2026 (91 FR 1547) (USCIS page).
- South Sudan: TPS ended on August 7, 2026.
- Cameroon: the termination took effect on August 4, 2025 (notice published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2025, 90 FR 23697).
- Sudan: the country is listed among those currently designated on the USCIS page, which shows no end date.
- Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea: these countries appear in the list of previously designated countries, with no date shown on the page.
For other African countries, the USCIS does not mention any TPS on this page.
Why these terminations
For Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan, USCIS cites the Supreme Court decision Mullin v. Doe (June 25, 2026), described as a similar case on TPS terminations. The USCIS pages we read do not mention a court order specific to Ethiopia or Somalia, and do not explain how the decision applies to each country. The legal situation may change: always check the official page for your country.
What can affected people do?
- Visit the “Explore My Options” pages and the green card eligibility categories on the USCIS website, which describe other possible statuses.
- Asylum is another option: USCIS notes that TPS “stops the clock” on the one-year asylum filing deadline. The page does not say whether this still applies after TPS ends, so seek advice quickly.
- For work authorization questions, USCIS points to I-9 Central.
- Beware of fake advisers: USCIS warns about unauthorized practitioners. The forms (I-821, I-765) are free at uscis.gov/forms. For personal advice, contact an attorney or an accredited representative (“Find Legal Services” page).
Why it matters for the DMV diaspora
Thousands of people from these countries live in the Washington area. Prince George’s County alone, for example, has 4,618 Ethiopian-born residents, according to a county report published in 2026 (our article). For them and their families, losing a status affects the right to work, housing and the stability of the household. Staying informed from the official source is essential.
This article is informational and is not legal advice.
Sources
This article is our own summary. Official sources: USCIS, Temporary Protected Status; USCIS, TPS Ethiopia; USCIS, TPS Somalia; Federal Register, Cameroon TPS termination (90 FR 23697).
