Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
What to know
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration status granted to noncitizens who flee their countries of origin due to ongoing war, environmental disasters, or other conditions that are considered “extraordinary” and “temporary.” Recipients are protected from deportation and may work and live in the US as long as they have this status. TPS can be granted in 6-, 12-, or 18-month increments, and extension of the status is based on the conditions within the origin country.
This program has been criticized for creating a “legal limbo” for TPS holders. For example, per the Center for Migration Studies, “any individual from Honduras or Nicaragua who holds TPS has now been residing in the country for more than 15 years” since they were first designated as TPS countries in 1999. TPS designations and extensions can span decades and do not create any path for recipients to transition into a permanent resident status.
The Biden administration proposed legislation to allow TPS holders to apply for permanent status, but it did not pass. Under Biden, the Homeland Security Department designated immigrants from Venezuela and Myanmar as eligible to apply for TPS as well as extended TPS designation for immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen through the end of 2022.
In 2025, the Trump administration took steps to end TPS protections for people from several countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. These efforts were met with a series of legal challenges.
Once a TPS status is revoked or no longer renewed, the holder would “return to the immigration status that they held prior to receiving TPS.” If the holder entered the US without authorization, they would return to an undocumented status and be eligible for deportation. If using the term, including a brief explanation on first reference can be helpful for clarity.
Taking care to include context on the complexities of the US immigration system, and its impacts on immigrants, is critical for accurate reporting and minimizing harm. Important context to consider in your reporting on TPS includes the vulnerabilities and challenges immigrants face with frequent changes to immigration law, especially when presidential administrations change. Journalists can refer to the American Immigration Council and American Immigration Lawyers Association for reliable information on legal dynamics.
Due to the potential legal ramifications of disclosing someone’s immigration status, it’s especially important to confirm with an individual that they are comfortable with the information being included in media coverage, and that its inclusion is necessary and relevant.
Additional resources
- What is Temporary Protected Status? (Council on Foreign Relations)
- Temporary Protected Status: An Overview (American Immigration Council)
- 2025 Cultural Competence Handbook (National Association of Hispanic Journalists)
- Protecting Immigrant Sources (El Tímpano)
Summary
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a US immigration status granted to noncitizens who flee their countries of origin due to ongoing war, environmental disasters, or other conditions that are deemed “extraordinary” and “temporary.” Recipients are protected from deportation and may work and live in the US as long as they have this status. If using the term, including a brief explanation on first reference, and tracking legal changes and challenges, can be helpful for clarity. Due to the potential ramifications of disclosing someone’s immigration status, it’s especially important to confirm with an individual that they are comfortable with the information being included in media coverage, and that its inclusion is necessary and relevant.