U.S. terminates Temporary Protected Status for Syrians
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United States on Saturday terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian nationals, ending a humanitarian protection that had allowed eligible Syrians to remain and work legally in the country while shielding them from deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the termination followed a review of conditions in Syria and consultations with relevant U.S. government agencies. The measure took effect on July 27, 2026.
DHS had previously determined that Syria no longer met the conditions required for TPS designation, citing changes in conditions in the country. The decision was initially challenged in federal court, delaying its implementation.
On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to terminate TPS for Syrian and Haitian nationals, removing a key legal obstacle to the terminations.
TPS was first granted to Syrians in 2012 under the administration of former President Barack Obama amid the escalating conflict in Syria. The program provides temporary protection from removal and work authorization to nationals of countries designated by the U.S. government as unsafe for return because of armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions.
As of 2026, estimates of the number of Syrians covered by TPS ranged from about 4,000 to more than 6,000, depending on the reporting period and source.
In September 2025, DHS announced its initial decision to end Syria’s TPS designation, arguing that conditions in the country had improved following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The decision was subsequently challenged, with a federal judge in New York postponing the termination while the case proceeded.
The Supreme Court’s June ruling allowed the administration to proceed with the termination, and the protections ultimately ended in July.
The termination means Syrians who relied solely on TPS no longer have protection from removal or work authorization through that program. Those with another valid immigration status may remain eligible to stay and work in the United States under that separate status.
The decision has drawn concern from refugee and immigrant rights organizations, which have argued that Syria continues to face security and humanitarian challenges. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants previously urged the administration to reverse the termination, saying conditions remained unsafe for many Syrians.