Deep Dive: Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a vital humanitarian program in the United States designed to offer temporary legal status to individuals from countries experiencing severe crises. Administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the program provides a lifeline to those who cannot safely return to their home countries due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. There were more than 1 million people from 16 countries in the United States protected under TPS. The majority of TPS holders are from Haiti and Venezuela.

During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump vowed to revoke TPS, an action that could result in thousands of people losing legal status or returning to unstable countries after years, if not decades, in the United States.

In the latest edition of HIAS’ Deep Dive series, we explore the key aspects of TPS, explain its benefit to the United States, and examine how the Trump administration may change it.

What is TPS? Who is eligible for it?

Established in 1990, TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries. The program aims to protect individuals from deportation and allows them to live and work legally in the United States while their home countries recover from crises. The U.S. government currently recognizes 16 countries as eligible for TPS for, as the name indicates, a temporary amount of time; the U.S. reviews TPS status for countries every six to 18 months.

The countries designated for TPS are typically enduring a crisis such as ongoing armed conflict, a natural disaster (like an earthquake or a hurricane), or another temporary condition that would prevent a citizen from returning to safety. To be eligible, a national of a designated country must have been continuously present in the country since the effective date of the most recent TPS designation. While TPS holders obtain protection from deportation as well as permission to seek employment, the program does not provide a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship in the United States.

How does TPS benefit the United States?

TPS provides nationals from countries afflicted with a severe, temporary crisis — think Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake — with protection from deportation as well as permission to work in the United States, allowing recipients to contribute productively to the U.S. economy. TPS holders fill essential roles in industries such as healthcare, construction, hospitality, and agriculture. Long-term TPS holders are considerably more likely than the overall population to be part of the work force; for example: 86% of TPS holders from El Salvador and 83% from Honduras, who have been in the U.S. for more than 20 years, hold jobs.

TPS holders pay federal, state, and local taxes, including income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. These contributions support public services and infrastructure. Notably, TPS holders are not eligible for federal benefits such as housing assistance, SNAP benefits or Social Security, although they can be eligible for some state-funded assistance, depending on the state.

Many TPS holders are also deeply integrated into their communities, having lived there for years, participating in local organizations, schools, and civic activities. Their involvement enriches local culture, strengthens community ties, and contributes to the United States’ status as a global economic and cultural force.

Why does the Trump administration want to revoke TPS and what’s the risk if it succeeds?

TPS became an issue during the 2024 presidential campaign when President Trump and Vice President JD Vance amplified false rumors about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Most of Springfield’s Haitians, whose lives were upended by the ensuing moral panic, were not, contrary to Vance’s characterization, “illegal aliens.” They had lawful status in the United States under TPS. President Trump has vowed to end TPS for Haitians — a position affirmed by the Project 2025 blueprint for his administration and by incoming border “czar” Thomas Homan.

Trump’s efforts to end TPS are not unprecedented. During his first term, in 2018, his administration tried to revoke TPS for Haiti and five other countries but their efforts were blocked by the courts. Should he succeed this time, it would have a devastating effect for thousands of people in the United States. Many would be at risk of deportation back to countries where they may face violence and persecution, removing them from a home where they’ve established businesses, raised families, and established deep roots in communities across the U.S. The revocation of TPS would have a negative impact on businesses who rely on TPS holders in their workforce. The deportation of TPS holders would signal that even those who went through proper legal channels to immigrate to the United States are not protected.