Fact Sheet: Temporary Protected Status for Cameroon 

This fact sheet is current as of July 11, 2025. It is not legal advice. 

Through the Federal Register Notice (FRN) on June 4, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Cameroon. The designation of Cameroon for TPS expired on June 7, 2025. The termination will be in affect August 4, 2025.  

What is temporary protected status (TPS)? 

TPS is granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country. 

During the designated TPS period, TPS holders are not removable from the United States and not detainable by DHS based on their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible for an employment authorization document (EAD), and eligible for travel authorization. 

What is the status of TPS for Cameroon? 

On October 10, 2023, TPS for Cameroon was extended for the 18-month period from December 8, 2023, to June 7, 2025. On June 4, 2025, the extension and designation of Cameroon as a TPS location was vacated by DHS. There is a 60-day waiting period until the termination goes into effect on August 4, 2025. After August 4, 2025, nationals of Cameroon (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon) who hold TPS will no longer hold TPS. You can no longer apply for TPS for Cameroon or extend the status. The FRN provides further details.  

How do I apply for TPS? 

People interested in TPS must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pay the filing fee. They may also apply for an EAD and for travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.  

The application period for TPS for Cameroon is closed as of June 7, 2025. No more applications are being accepted. 

Is TPS status given automatically? 

No, TPS is not automatic. People must apply, pay a filing fee, and pass immigration screening. There are some facts that will make a person ineligible for TPS. For example, people with certain criminal convictions or who violated the human rights of others are not eligible for TPS. People who are inadmissible under certain sections of the law may have to file a waiver before they can be approved for TPS status. The application process can be complicated, and we recommend working with an immigration attorney. Please note, currently DHS is not accepting TPS applications for Cameroon. 

How long will eligible individuals have protection under TPS? 

TPS is a temporary status. TPS for Cameroon is terminated on August 4, 2025. After this date, Cameroonian nationals (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon) who hold TPS status will no longer have TPS. 

Does TPS Status provide a path to permanent residency? 

No, TPS does not provide a path to lawful permanent resident status. However, some TPS holders may be independently eligible to adjust status through a family-based, employment-based, or other legal avenue. Please consult with an immigration lawyer regarding this issue. 

Get Help 

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) provides free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants in a variety of immigration matters. For more information about how we can assist you, please visit our website at www.ilcm.org or call us at (651) 641-1011. 

 

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Fact Sheet: Temporary Protected Status for Nepal 

This fact sheet is current as of July 11, 2025. It is not legal advice. 

Through the Federal Register notice on June 6, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepal. The designation for Nepal expired on June 24. The termination will be effective August 5, 2025.  

What is temporary protected status (TPS)? 

TPS is granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country. 

During the designated TPS period, TPS holders are not removable from the United States and not detainable by DHS based on their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible for an employment authorization document (EAD), and eligible for travel authorization. 

What is the status of TPS for Nepal? 

The designation of TPS for Nepal is set to expire June 24, 2025. Through the Federal Register notice on June 6, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem terminated the next extension of TPS for Nepal.  

From the notice of termination on June 6, 2025, there is a 60-day transition period until the termination is effective on August 5, 2025, after 11:59pm. After August 5, 2025, nationals of Nepal (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal) who hold TPS, will no longer have TPS.  

What happens to my employment authorization during the 60-day transition period? 

Between June 6, 2025, and August 5, 2025 (the 60-day transition period), Nepal TPS holders with employment authorization documents continue to be employment authorized. After August 5, 2025, TPS is terminated along with its corresponding employment authorization.  

How do I apply for TPS? 

People interested in TPS must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pay the filing fee. They may also apply for an EAD and for travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.  

The application period for TPS for Nepal is closed as of June 24, 2025. No more applications are being accepted.
 

Is TPS status given automatically? 

No, TPS is not automatic. People must apply, pay a filing fee, and pass immigration screening. There are some facts that will make a person ineligible for TPS. For example, people with certain criminal convictions or who violated the human rights of others are not eligible for TPS. People who are inadmissible under certain sections of the law may have to file a waiver before they can be approved for TPS status. The application process can be complicated, and we recommend working with an immigration attorney. Please note, currently DHS is not accepting TPS applications for Nepal.  

How long will eligible individuals have protection under TPS? 

TPS is a temporary status. TPS for Nepal is terminated on August 5, 2025. After this date, Nepal nationals (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal) who hold TPS status will no longer have TPS.  

I have a TPS for Nepal, can I apply to extend it? 

No, the TPS for Nepal extension was vacated by DHS.
 

I do not have TPS, can I apply for the first time? 

No, applications are not being accepted at this time.
 

I am from Nepal, and I am in deportation proceedings. Can I apply for TPS to avoid deportation? 

No, applications are not being accepted at this time.  

Does TPS Status provide a path to permanent residency? 

No, TPS does not provide a path to lawful permanent resident status. However, some TPS holders may be independently eligible to adjust status through family-based, employment-based, or other legal avenues. Please consult with an immigration lawyer regarding this issue. 

May someone with a pending asylum application apply for TPS? 

Note: currently TPS applications for Nepal are not being accepted.  

Applying for TPS, or being granted TPS, does not affect a pending asylum application. However, asylum applicants should consider their preferred strategy in the event that their asylum application is not granted by USCIS. Based on this, we strongly recommend obtaining an immigration lawyer to discuss this question with you. 

If someone has TPS at the time their asylum application is denied, USCIS cannot refer their asylum case to an immigration judge where the applicant may present the asylum claim for reconsideration. Thus, if you have a weak asylum case that is unlikely to be granted by an immigration judge and have no other relief available, it may be best to proceed with applying for TPS. Those who have a strong case for asylum may prefer not to apply for TPS until after the affirmative asylum application has been denied. Again, it is important to obtain an immigration lawyer to discuss the merits of your asylum application. 

Note that obtaining TPS status will “stop the clock” on the requirement to file for asylum within one year of arriving in the United States if the one-year clock has not already expired. 

Get Help 

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) provides free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants in a variety of immigration matters. For more information about how we can assist you, please visit our website at www.ilcm.org or call us at (651) 641-1011. 

 

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Fact Sheet: Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan 

This fact sheet is current as of July 11, 2025. It is not legal advice. 

Through the Federal Register notice on May 13, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. The designation for Afghanistan expired on May 20, 2025. The termination will be effective July 14, 2025.  

What is temporary protected status (TPS)? 

TPS is granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country. 

During the designated TPS period, TPS holders are not removable from the United States and not detainable by DHS based on their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible for an employment authorization document (EAD), and eligible for travel authorization. 

What is the status of TPS for Afghanistan? 

For the 18-month period beginning on November 21, 2023, and ending on May 20, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas extended and redesignated Afghanistan for TPS. Through the Federal Register notice on May 13, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem terminated the extension of TPS for Afghanistan.  

From the notice of termination on May 13, 2025, there is a 60-day transition period until the termination is effective on July 14, 2025, after 11:59pm. After July 14, 2025, nationals of Afghanistan (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who hold TPS, will no longer have TPS.  

What happens to my employment authorization during the 60-day transition period? 

Between May 13, 2025, and July 14, 2025 (the 60-day transition period), Afghanistan TPS holders who already have employment authorization documents, continue to be employment authorized. After July 14, 2025, TPS is terminated along with its corresponding employment authorization.  

How do I apply for TPS? 

People interested in TPS must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pay the filing fee. They may also apply for an EAD and travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.  

The application period for TPS for Afghanistan is closed as of May 20, 2025. No more applications are being accepted.
 

Is TPS status given automatically? 

No, TPS is not automatic. People must apply, pay a filing fee, and pass immigration screening. There are some facts that will make a person ineligible for TPS. For example, people with certain criminal convictions or who violated the human rights of others are not eligible for TPS. People who are inadmissible under certain sections of the law may have to file a waiver before they can be approved for TPS status. The application process can be complicated, and we recommend working with an immigration attorney. Please note, currently DHS is not accepting TPS applications for Afghanistan.  

How long will eligible individuals have protection under TPS? 

TPS is a temporary status. TPS for Afghanistan is terminated on July 14, 2025. After this date, Afghan nationals (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who hold TPS status will no longer have TPS.  

I have a TPS for Afghanistan, can I apply to extend it? 

No, the TPS for Afghanistan extension was vacated by DHS.
 

I do not have TPS, can I apply for the first time? 

No, TPS applications for Afghanistan are not currently being accepted.
 

I am from Afghanistan, and I am in deportation proceedings. Can I apply for TPS to avoid deportation? 

No, you can no longer apply for TPS for Afghanistan. 

Does TPS Status provide a path to permanent residency? 

No, TPS does not provide a path to lawful permanent resident status. However, some TPS holders may be independently eligible to adjust status through a family-based, employment-based, or other legal avenue. Please consult with an immigration lawyer regarding this issue. 

May someone with a pending asylum application apply for TPS? 

Note: currently TPS applications for Afghanistan are not being accepted.  

Applying for TPS, or being granted TPS, does not affect a pending asylum application. However, asylum applicants should consider their preferred strategy in the event that their asylum application is not granted by USCIS. Based on this, we strongly recommend obtaining an immigration lawyer to discuss this question with you. 

If someone has TPS at the time their asylum application is denied, USCIS cannot refer their asylum case to an immigration judge where the applicant may present the asylum claim for reconsideration. Thus, if you have a weak asylum case that is unlikely to be granted by an immigration judge and have no other relief available, it may be best to proceed with applying for TPS. Those who have a strong case for asylum may prefer not to apply for TPS until after the affirmative asylum application has been denied. Again, it is important to obtain an immigration lawyer to discuss the merits of your asylum application. 

Note that obtaining TPS status will “stop the clock” on the requirement to file for asylum within one year of arriving in the United States if the one-year clock has not already expired. 

I arrived in the United States through “Operation Allies Welcome” or another Special Immigrant Visa option, can I apply for TPS? 

No, TPS applications for Afghanistan are not currently being accepted.  

Depending on your status you may not need to apply. We recommend talking to a licensed immigration attorney about your case. 

Get Help 

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) provides free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants in a variety of immigration matters. For more information about how we can assist you, please visit our website at www.ilcm.org or call us at (651) 641-1011. 

 

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Fact Sheet: Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan 

This fact sheet is current as of July 11, 2025. It is not legal advice.  

On September 5, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from November 4, 2023, through May 3, 2025. On May 6, 2025, DHS announced that TPS for South Sudan is extended and redesignated through November 3, 2025.  

Instructions for applying for TPS are included in the Federal Register Notice (FRN) on TPS South Sudan.  

What is temporary protected status (TPS)? 

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants TPS to individuals from designated countries who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances in their home countries. 

During the designated TPS period, TPS holders can live in the United States and should not be detained by DHS solely based on their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) and for travel authorization. 

What does the extension of TPS for South Sudan mean? 

If you already hold TPS as a South Sudan national (or have no nationality but who last habitually resided in South Sudan), this 6-month extension automatically extends your TPS through November 3, 2025.  

What does the redesignation of TPS for South Sudan mean? 

If you are a South Sudanese national (or have no nationality but who last habitually resided in South Sudan) and have never had TPS, you can now apply for TPS for the first time. If you meet the eligibility requirements and have lived in the United States continuously since September 4, 2023.  

How do I apply for TPS? 

People interested in TPS must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pay the filing fee. They may also apply for an EAD and travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility. More details about the eligibility criteria to submit an initial TPS application and apply for an EAD can be found in the Federal Register Notice. 

Is TPS status given automatically? 

No, TPS is not automatic. People must apply, pay a filing fee, and pass immigration screening. There are some facts that will make a person ineligible for TPS. For example, people with certain criminal convictions or who violated the human rights of others are not eligible for TPS. People who are inadmissible under certain sections of the law may have to file a waiver before they can be approved for TPS status. The application process can be complicated, and we recommend working with an immigration attorney. 

The May 6, 2025, announcement of the automatic 6-month redesignation and extension of TPS for South Sudan means that if you already held TPS at that time, your status is automatically extended through November 3, 2025. In this case, you do not need to re-apply.  

How long will eligible individuals have protection under TPS? 

TPS is a temporary status. The Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is extending and redesignating South Sudan for TPS until November 3, 2025. 

I have South Sudan TPS, can I apply to extend it? 

If you held TPS for South Sudan as of May 3, 2025, your TPS was automatically extended through November 3, 2025. You do not need to apply.  

I do not have TPS, can I apply for the first time? 

Yes. Individuals applying for TPS for the first time can apply between May 4, 2025 and November 3, 2025. 

I have been in the United States since before September 4, 2023, but I have left for short periods of time. Can I apply for TPS?  

Maybe. Whether you still qualify for TPS depends on the length and nature of your time outside of the United States. Please contact an immigration attorney to discuss your situation further.  

I am from South Sudan, and I came to the United States as a refugee. Do I need to apply for TPS?  

No. People who are in the United States with refugee status can live and work here and apply for permanent resident status after one year. They do not require TPS. 

I am from South Sudan, and I now have a green card. Do I need to apply for TPS?  

No. As a permanent resident, you have legal status in the United States and are on a path to citizenship. You do not need and would not qualify for TPS. 

I am from South Sudan, and I am in deportation proceedings. Can I apply for TPS to avoid deportation?  

Yes. A person in removal proceedings can apply for TPS, and if approved, can request that the judge put the removal case on hold until TPS is approved, and then for the time it is in effect. 

I am from South Sudan, and the police have given me tickets here. Can I apply for TPS?  

Maybe. You should show your tickets, police reports, and court records to an immigration lawyer before filing. A person with two misdemeanors or one felony conviction cannot get TPS. A lawyer can tell you if the tickets will be a problem. 

Which people from South Sudan should consider applying for TPS?  

People who are here with no legal status should consider applying. Also, those who are here on a visa that is for a limited time or that does not allow employment might also benefit by receiving Temporary Protected Status. Having TPS does not hurt anything. 

 

Get Help 

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) provides free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants in a variety of immigration matters. For more information about how we can assist you, please visit our website at www.ilcm.org or call us at (651) 641-1011. 

 

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June 26, 2025- The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is thrilled to welcome four new board members: James Hernández, Teresa Padrón, Matthew Webster, and Maggie MacLennan. They bring a breadth of experience and expertise. Their dedication to immigrant communities is crucial to helping ILCM face today’s challenges.

James Hernández is a student at the University of Minnesota pursuing an M.S. Degree in Data Science. He recently received a B.A. in Data Science and Sociology from Macalester College, where he was a Bonner Fellow placed at the Binger Center for New Americans for the past three years working as a Research, Community Outreach and Legal Assistant. He believes that education can and should be used as a tool for social service, and is passionate about uplifting immigrant communities. 

 

Teresa Padrón is a rising second year at the University of Minnesota Law School. She is incredibly excited to be joining ILCM’s Board, given her commitment to leverage the law to ensure access to justice for immigrants and noncitizens. Teresa is also particularly excited to contribute her events and communications experience to ongoing efforts to prepare for ILCM’s 30th anniversary in 2026.   

 

Matthew Webster is a Senior Immigration Attorney at the law firm of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., where he assists employers, families, and individuals with immigration strategies and applications. Matthew previously served as the Chair of the Minnesota-Dakotas Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently serves on AILA’s National Verification & Documentation Committee. He teaches immigration law at the University of St. Thomas and was previously adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota Law School. Matthew provides pro bono legal assistance to ILCM and the Advocates for Human Rights. 

 

Maggie MacLennan is an adolescent counselor serving students in the San Mateo Foster City School District in the Bay Area of California. Maggie maintains deep ties to her home state of Minnesota and brings a strong sense of community and service to her work. She earned her master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2021. Maggie has a background in nonprofit work, having held full-time roles at two Minnesota-based organizations focused on youth development and educational equity. She is passionate about supporting immigrant families in her school community. Maggie brings a deep commitment to equity, youth empowerment, and community-driven change. 

Last week, the federal administration announced travel restrictions on 19 countries which went into effect yesterday. Both immigrant and non-immigrant visas are banned for twelve countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Seven other countries have bans on most immigrant visas and many non-immigrant visas: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.  

The restrictions target primarily African and Asian countries, towards many of which the President has directed racist vitriol in the past. Nine of the twelve banned countries are Muslim-majority countries.  

This new travel ban follows the federal government’s suspension of the refugee resettlement program and almost all asylum applications at the southern border. While the vast majority of refugees, including those with already-approved applications and travel plans, are barred from entry, the administration extended special privileges and expedited admissions to white South Africans.  

Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota Executive Director Jennifer Stohl Powell said: “The latest restrictions on specific countries come on the heels of blatantly racist, aggressive immigration enforcement that has terrorized communities nationwide. The supposed justifications for this action cannot disguise its overtly racist and xenophobic purpose.”  

“The travel ban, like previous actions targeting refugees, asylum seekers, humanitarian parolees, Temporary Protected Status holders, and international students, furthers xenophobia under the guise of national security.” 

The Minnesota state legislature plans to roll back MinnesotaCare state health benefits for undocumented adults in Minnesota, just six months after expanding coverage. The move has been described by legislators as a difficult fiscal decision, a budget compromise. This framing ignores the very real consequences of repealing health care from 15,000 of the most vulnerable Minnesotans. It distills human life to a number in a spreadsheet.

Providing health care to everyone benefits everyone. Snatching this fundamental human right from a group of people who have become the main targets of state terror is cruel, cowardly, and complicit in the atrocities that are daily features of the federal immigration agenda. For people who are already systematically marginalized, this decision signals the willingness of the state government to legislate their disposability. 

As ILCM Policy Director, Julia Decker, notes, “Framing the removal of critical service access from people that are being scapegoated and targeted at a federal, systemic level as a difficult fiscal decision sidesteps the severity and enormity of this choice. This will not simply change lives. It will cost them.” The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) stands in firm opposition to this inhumane policy and the shameful manner in which lawmakers have positioned their support to be a mere factor of fiscal responsibility. 

The Trump administration began with a flurry of executive orders, declarations, and Congressional actions affecting immigration policy and immigrants. Within hours of the inauguration, refugee admissions were suspended, and asylum applications at the southern border were halted. Those actions were quickly followed by an order that tried to prohibit birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are undocumented or who are here on temporary work, student, or tourist visas. These actions have stoked fear in many of our clients and immigrant and refugee communities nation-wide. 

Lawsuits challenging some of these actions have already been filed. The first ruling came on January 23 in one of multiple lawsuits challenging the restriction of birthright citizenship. Minnesota, represented by Attorney General Keith Ellison, is one of the states joining in the challenges. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration order restricting birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” 

Our community of immigrants, their family members, and allies are not the only ones under attack. Other orders have targeted the LGBTQIA+ community, especially transgender people; have trashed sixty-year-old civil rights rules; and have promoted investigations of state and local officials who protect immigrants.  

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota condemns the inhumane and racist actions of the Trump administration. We will continue to defend the rights of immigrants and refugees and oppose policies and actions that harm those communities. We affirm our commitment to recognizing the dignity and humanity of all people and protecting our immigrant communities.