The Trump administration is ending a program that protected thousands of Afghans living in the U.S. from deportation. Starting May 20, more than 9,000 Afghan nationals could lose their legal protection and face removal unless Congress or the courts step in.
This change affects those who were covered under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a policy that lets people from war-torn or disaster-stricken countries live and work in the U.S. temporarily. TPS was first granted to Afghans in 2022 after the Taliban took over the country, and extended once more in 2023 due to continued instability.
Now, with Trump back in office for his second term, the Department of Homeland Security has decided not to renew the program for Afghanistan. That means once the protection expires on May 20, many Afghan families who fled danger could be required to return, even as the country remains under Taliban rule.
Unless new protections are issued or legal challenges delay the process, deportation proceedings could begin in the weeks following the expiration date.
