U.S. Court Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration’s Bid to End Temporary Protected Status for Afghans

Kokcha News Agency – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an administrative stay on Monday, blocking the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans until July 21. The decision came in response to a request from the immigration advocacy organization CASA, which filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over its April announcement to end TPS for Afghans and Cameroonians.

The DHS had argued that conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer warranted the protected status, which provides protection against deportation and work permits for individuals from countries affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary events. The TPS program, which can be renewed by the homeland security secretary, has been a lifeline for many Afghans and Cameroonians in the U.S.

CASA sought an emergency stay on Monday, when TPS for Afghans was set to expire, while the status for Cameroonians is scheduled to end on August 4. The group argued that the termination was arbitrary, discriminatory, and would cause “irreparable harm” to those affected. The court’s stay is not a final decision but allows time for the legal challenge to proceed.

Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups coordinating resettlements, emphasized the importance of the legal challenge. “AfghanEvac stands firmly behind the legal challenge and calls on DHS and the Trump administration to immediately reverse course and extend TPS protections,” VanDiver said in an email.

The U.S. evacuated over 82,000 Afghans after the Taliban takeover in 2021, with more than 70,000 entering the country on temporary “parole” for two years. Rights advocates warn that many Afghans who assisted the U.S. during its 20-year war in Afghanistan would face severe risks if forced to return, particularly women, whose rights have been drastically curtailed under Taliban rule.

The Trump administration’s efforts to end most TPS enrollments during its first term (2017-2021) were previously thwarted by federal courts. The DHS has until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday to respond to the court’s stay.