U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked protection benefits for Afghan and Cameroonian immigrants residing in the United States. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the decision on Friday (April 11), stating that the move was taken under the country’s ongoing strict immigration policies. The report was published by British news agency Reuters.
As a result of this decision, 14,600 Afghans will lose their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) next month. Another 7,900 Cameroonian immigrants will lose their TPS in June.
Donald Trump came to power promising to deport record numbers of undocumented immigrants. In keeping with that pledge, he has quickly moved to restrict temporary legal protections for many immigrants, increasing the number of people at risk of deportation.
Trump frequently criticizes undocumented immigrants and takes every opportunity to slam former President Joe Biden, blaming him for allowing undocumented immigration to surpass legal limits during his term.
Under the TPS program, an immigrant can stay in the United States for six to eighteen months, a period which may be renewed by the Department of Homeland Security. TPS allows individuals to avoid deportation and obtain work permits.
Typically, citizens of countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions are considered eligible for TPS benefits in the U.S.
In a statement, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLoughlin said that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sees no necessity to renew TPS benefits for Afghanistan and Cameroon based on their current situations.
Trump, who served his first term from 2017 to 2021, had previously attempted to revoke TPS benefits for most people, though court interventions prevented him from succeeding at the time.