What Is TPS?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was authorized under the Immigration and Nationality Act and is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It allows eligible foreign-born individuals already in the United States to live and work legally when conditions in their home country prevent safe return.

Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) is a discretionary protection granted by the President that allows certain foreign-born individuals to remain and work legally in the United States when conditions in their home country prevent safe return.

Together, TPS and DED provide critical protection from deportation and work authorization to individuals fleeing war, natural disasters, and other extraordinary conditions.

What Is Happening With TPS Now?

President Trump issued an executive order directing top Cabinet officials to ensure TPS designations are narrowly tailored and limited in duration. Under his administration, every TPS-designated country that has come up for review — regardless of country conditions — has been terminated.

TPS terminations represent coordinated attacks on immigrant communities through mass delegalization — stripping legal status from hundreds of thousands of people who have built lives, families, and futures in the United States. The Trump administration disproportionately targets Black immigrant communities through its inflammatory public targeting of Haitians and Somalis. As these protections are dismantled, TPS holders have been detained and deported, families have been torn apart, and businesses that sustain local economies have been forced to shut down.

What Can Members of Congress Do?

Congress must provide a pathway to permanent residence for those who have or have had TPS and DED status. Members of Congress are encouraged to co-sponsor the following legislation:

Members of Congress can also stand up for TPS by taking the following actions:

• Hold Hearings on TPS

  Congress has oversight authority that can be exercised even when not in the majority. Consider organizing shadow hearings and field hearings on TPS that amplify community voices.

• Exercise Congressional Oversight on TPS Terminations

  Demand transparency from DHS on the criteria used to terminate or redesignate TPS for specific countries. Conduct oversight inquiries into DHS decision-making on TPS terminations.

• Protect TPS Holders from Deportations

  Urge the administration to halt expedited removals of individuals who previously held TPS and may still qualify for humanitarian relief or have deep ties to U.S. communities.

• Publicly Oppose Efforts to Terminate TPS

  Speak out against attempts to revoke or terminate TPS designations. Amplify the voices and stories of TPS holders in your district and use your platform to push back against the administration’s attacks on long-settled immigrant communities.

CUSP is ready to support these efforts with expert testimony, community witnesses, and logistical coordination. We are available to provide briefings and educational sessions for your staff on TPS, country conditions, legal pathways, and the impacts of current enforcement policies.