The pace of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) terminations has intensified sharply in recent weeks, as two more country designations fell in rapid succession and the Department of Homeland Security declared that all of its TPS terminations are now in effect. The developments mark a critical inflection point for hundreds of thousands of immigrants across the United States—and signal an urgent need for affected individuals and their employers to take immediate action.
Somalia TPS: Terminated Effective August 14, 2026
USCIS confirmed that Temporary Protected Status for Somalia terminated on August 14, 2026, and that TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents issued under the designation are no longer valid.
The guidance supersedes a prior agency message issued on August 12, 2026. According to USCIS, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem previously determined that Somalia no longer met the statutory conditions required for TPS designation following a review of country conditions and consultation with relevant U.S. government agencies.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Mullin v. Doe, the legal protection for Somali TPS holders ended on August 14, 2026. The high court's 6–3 decision established that non-constitutional challenges to TPS terminations are barred from judicial review. This allowed DHS to move forward with ending the designation, affecting over 1,100 individuals who have relied on this protection since 1991, primarily in communities like Minneapolis.
U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs of Massachusetts issued the ruling on August 14, 2026, removing the immediate obstacle to the administration's termination plan. The decision did not order the removal or deportation of any particular Somali national.
The Somalia TPS program had been scheduled to end on March 17, 2026, but Burroughs issued a stay on March 13, preserving both TPS and employment authorization as the case proceeded.
What This Means for Employers
Forms I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EADs) with category A12 or C19 issued to TPS Somalia beneficiaries are no longer valid.
Employers must immediately review affected employees' work authorization documentation. Continued employment is only permitted if the employee can present alternative proof of valid work authorization. Employers should reverify affected employees using Form I-9 procedures and obtain valid evidence of continuing employment authorization.
Ethiopia TPS: Federal Judge Lifts Final Judicial Block
Just four days after Somalia's termination,
on August 18, 2026, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy lifted the stay blocking DHS from implementing the Ethiopia TPS termination. As a result, DHS may now proceed with ending TPS protections for Ethiopian nationals while the broader legal challenge continues.
Reuters and Al Jazeera both reported that more than 5,000 Ethiopians hold the status, which had allowed them to live and work legally in the United States.
USCIS announced late Tuesday that work authorization is terminated effective August 18. Ethiopia was first designated for TPS in December 2022, and the designation was extended in April 2024 for an 18-month period, from June 13, 2024 through December 12, 2025.
In December 2025, DHS announced that it was not extending the designation, but would provide a 60-day transition period through February 13, 2026, during which beneficiaries would remain work-authorized.
The court did not dismiss the underlying lawsuit, and litigation over the legality of the TPS termination remains ongoing. However, the ruling removes the primary obstacle that had prevented DHS from effectuating the termination.
The decision removes the final legal hurdle facing DHS after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the administration could terminate similar protections for thousands of people from Haiti and Syria. "ALL TPS terminations are now IN EFFECT," the DHS said in a post on X.
Impact on Ethiopian Nationals
Losing TPS is not the same as being deported. It removes the shield that stopped the government from starting removal cases.
Ethiopians who have no other legal basis to stay, such as a pending asylum claim, a student visa, or a green-card application, now become removable and can be placed in immigration court proceedings.
Ukraine TPS: EAD Extensions Through October 19, 2026
In a contrasting development for Ukrainian nationals,
USCIS announced that certain Ukraine TPS beneficiaries with pending EAD renewal applications will receive an automatic extension of their expired TPS-based EADs through October 19, 2026.
The TPS designation of Ukraine and related benefits are set to terminate on October 19, 2026.
As of June 2026, USCIS estimates that approximately 101,150 Ukrainians hold TPS in the United States.
Employees who receive the USCIS notice may present their expired EAD with an expiration date of October 19, 2023, or April 19, 2025, together with the USCIS notice as evidence of identity and employment authorization for Form I-9 purposes through October 19, 2026. USCIS instructed employers to record October 19, 2026, as the expiration date in the applicable Form I-9 fields and to note the extension in the Additional Information section.
Although this automatic extension provides temporary certainty for affected employers and employees, Ukraine TPS is currently scheduled to end on October 19, 2026. Employers should continue monitoring future DHS announcements and Federal Register notices for any additional developments affecting TPS beneficiaries and their work authorization status.
The Legal Backdrop: Mullin v. Doe
All of these developments trace back to the Supreme Court's pivotal June 25, 2026, ruling.
The Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 decision in Mullin v. Doe, upholding the Trump administration's authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria—and severely limiting judicial review of future TPS terminations.
The ruling essentially establishes that TPS terminations are largely unreviewable by the courts, meaning that, even if the administration does not fully and accurately evaluate country conditions before terminating protections, there is very little legal recourse to challenge those decisions.
The Broader Landscape
When Trump returned to office in January 2025, 17 countries had TPS designation. The administration has since ended or moved to end it for 13 of them, with Venezuelans, Haitians, and Hondurans some of the largest groups impacted.
The Trump administration has ended TPS designations for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. This has affected more than 1 million recipients.
As of mid-August 2026, just six countries retain TPS.
Practical Steps for Affected Individuals and Employers
For individuals who have lost TPS protections, the situation demands immediate legal evaluation.
A person whose TPS-based protection has ended may face immigration consequences if no other status or relief applies. The effect depends on the individual's record, pending filings, and available defenses.
Immigration attorneys recommend the following steps:
- Former Somalia and Ethiopia TPS holders should consult with an immigration attorney immediately to assess alternative forms of relief, including asylum, adjustment of status through family or employer-based petitions, or other humanitarian protections.
- Employers with affected workers must promptly reverify employment authorization using Form I-9 procedures and should not continue employing individuals who cannot present valid work authorization.
- Ukraine TPS holders with pending EAD renewals should ensure they have received the USCIS extension notice and present it alongside their expired EAD to their employers.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals affected by TPS terminations should consult a qualified immigration attorney regarding their specific circumstances.