Temporary Protected Status - what is it and what happens next?

You may have seen the headlines reporting that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for Afghanistan have been removed and are set to expire on July 14, 2025. 

We have received several questions about what this means and how this impacts the community we serve, so we wanted to provide you with some answers to Frequently Asked Questions. 

But first, some background: 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary status for nationals of designated countries where extraordinary circumstances prevent their safe return. It protects individuals from removal and allows them to live and work in the United States while their home countries stabilize.

In 2022, the Biden administration designated Afghanistan for TPS following the Taliban takeover, which escalated after the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021. The designation was extended in 2023 due to continued violence and instability  in Afghanistan.

On May 12, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of TPS designation for Afghanistan. The designation was set to expire on May 20, 2025; however, the protections will end on July 14, 2025 (60 days after the Federal Register Notice formalized the decision). Secretary Noem stated that conditions in Afghanistan have improved enough to end the program.

Despite DHS’s assertion that Afghanistan is safe, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Ending TPS now strips vital safeguards from our allies and exposes them to renewed risk and uncertainty. 

Who has Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

TPS is a temporary designation given to someone who is already in the United States without a permanent immigration status or visa. Afghanistan was designated for TPS in 2022 in response to turmoil and violence in the country under Taliban rule. 

Although many of the 11,700 Afghans approved for TPS protections have applied for asylum and other applicable pathways to legal permanent status  (including a Special Immigrant Visa) to remain in the country, those who do not have other protections  will be at imminent risk of deportation back to Afghanistan when the TPS protections end on July 14. 

What are the conditions in Afghanistan? 

Human Rights Watch wrote in its 2025 report on Afghanistan that the situation there has “worsened” over the past year as “Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, particularly against women and girls.” 

There is still a threat against Afghans who served the U.S. mission in any way and would be at risk of Taliban retaliation if they were to return. In an interview with the Washington Post, No One Left Behind’s executive director noted, “If there was ever a country that deserves TPS, it is Afghanistan.” 

What is the difference between SIV and TPS? 

SIV = Special Immigrant Visa 

The Special Immigrant Visa is a pathway to legal permanent status that  allows eligible wartime allies to immigrate to the United States. SIVs are available to those who worked with the U.S. in Iraq or Afghanistan. There are strict eligibility criteria and an extensive vetting process to receive an SIV. It often takes several years for eligible allies to go through the application process and receive an SIV.

TPS = Temporary Protected Status 

TPS is a temporary status given to those that are already in the United States. This designation protects people who cannot safely return to their home countries due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. 

Will the Afghan allies NOLB brought to the United States this year be sent back to Afghanistan? 

No. The more than 1,780 people we have safely brought to the United States are Afghan allies who already received their Special Immigrant Visa. This means they are legally able to immigrate and permanently establish their lives in the United States. 

What is No One Left Behind’s stance on this? 

Conditions in Afghanistan have only worsened since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. The government’s decision that those connected to the United States no longer face threats justifying Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is glaringly wrong. You can read our full statement here. 

Is there anything I can do to help?

• Give: We are continuing to book flights, provide resettlement, and doing everything we can to keep our promise to our Afghan and Iraqi allies. Your giving helps change lives. [Give Today] 

• Volunteer: We are continuing to bring families to the United States that are in need of resettlement support - everything from welcoming families at the airport to helping furnish homes. [Volunteer]

• Advocate: Join us in our advocacy work by becoming a Partner in the Promise. We are keeping our Afghan allies top of mind to ensure that their sacrifice is not forgotten and that we keep our promise. [Join]