Thousands of Yemeni Nationals Face Loss of Legal Protection in U.S.

Washington — Nearly 2,810 Yemeni nationals in the United States are at risk of losing their legal status following a decision by U.S. authorities to terminate Yemen’s designation under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. Beneficiaries who have not secured an alternative immigration pathway are being urged to leave voluntarily before deportation proceedings begin.

According to the Yemeni-American Media Foundation, thousands of Yemenis rely on TPS as the basis for their lawful residence in the U.S. The program’s termination forces them to either seek another legal route or prepare to depart.

The Department of Homeland Security announced in February that Yemen’s TPS designation would end, with the decision taking effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, as confirmed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Yemen was first designated for TPS on September 3, 2015, amid escalating armed conflict and deteriorating security conditions. Authorities at the time determined that returning Yemeni nationals could pose serious risks to their safety. The designation was extended multiple times, most recently in 2023 and 2024, before the latest termination order.

TPS grants recipients the right to live and work legally in the U.S. during the protection period but does not provide permanent residency or citizenship. The program’s end has sparked concern among Yemeni families who have built lives and businesses in America, leaving them with limited time to secure alternative legal status or face the prospect of leaving the country.