Section 1: Overview of the TPS Yemen termination
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated Yemen Temporary Protected Status (TPS), with the termination set to take effect 60 days after the Federal Register notice is published following the February 13, 2026 announcement. That starts a short wind-down period. For many Yemeni nationals who have relied on TPS since 2015, the change can affect two core protections: temporary protection from removal and TPS-based work authorization tied to an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
TPS is a humanitarian program that lets certain people already in the United States stay temporarily when conditions in their home country prevent safe return, such as armed conflict or a major disaster. TPS is not a visa, and it does not automatically lead to lawful permanent residence or citizenship. Still, in day-to-day life, it can matter as much as any status because it often provides (1) protection from removal during the designation period and (2) permission to work through an EAD.
DHS’s termination of Yemen TPS matters right away for practical reasons. Families may need to plan for employment changes, school and housing decisions, travel limits, and what happens if no other immigration status applies when the wind-down ends. Another key point: ending TPS does not automatically cancel other independent immigration statuses someone may have (for example, lawful permanent resident status, an approved asylum grant, valid nonimmigrant status, parole, or certain pending applications). Each status has its own rules and documents.
Table 1: Key milestones and dates (quick reference)
| Event | Date/Trigger | Impact on TPS Holders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHS announces Yemen TPS termination | February 13, 2026 | Signals that the TPS designation will end after the formal notice process | Watch for the Federal Register publication that starts the countdown |
| Federal Register notice is published | Publication is the trigger | Starts the 60 days wind-down period | The effective date is tied to publication, not the announcement alone |
| TPS termination becomes effective | 60 days after Federal Register publication | TPS-based protection and TPS-based work authorization generally end unless another status applies | People without another lawful basis to stay may face removal risk |
Section 2: Termination timeline and immediate requirements
Implementation hinges on one event: publication of the termination notice in the Federal Register. That publication starts the countdown. Under DHS’s announcement, Yemen TPS terminates 60 days after the notice is published. Think of the Federal Register as the government’s official bulletin board. Once the notice is posted there, the clock starts.
During the wind-down period, many TPS holders will still have TPS-related protections for a limited time, and current TPS-based work authorization remains valid for the transition period, as DHS described. Day-to-day, that can mean you may keep working with your current EAD during the wind-down, as applicable. It can also mean you should plan early, because a short deadline can arrive faster than expected.
After the transition ends, the consequences depend on whether you have another lawful basis to remain. TPS does not “convert” into a different immigration status when it ends. For Yemeni nationals who do not hold another lawful status, DHS has indicated they will be expected to depart the United States after the deadline. People who remain without lawful status after TPS ends may be at risk of arrest and removal.
Voluntary departure is a separate concept from TPS. it means leaving on your own rather than being removed after an enforcement action. DHS encouraged voluntary departures through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home app. Anyone considering departure should also think about timing, flight availability, passport validity, and keeping records that may matter later.
⚠️ If you hold Yemen TPS, verify your current EAD and plan for the wind-down period; review your status and avoid letting deadlines slip, especially for voluntary departure considerations.
Section 3: Who is affected and what documents to review right now
Yemen TPS typically covers Yemeni nationals (and, in many TPS programs, certain people who last habitually resided in the country). The termination directly affects people whose ability to stay and work is based on TPS. Family members may be indirectly affected too, but the effect depends on their own immigration status. A spouse or child might be a TPS holder, might be in another status, or might have no status at all. Each situation can differ.
Start by separating TPS from other immigration categories that people often confuse with it:
- Asylum or refugee status: These are separate protections with different eligibility rules and timelines. Ending TPS does not automatically end an asylum grant.
- Lawful permanent resident (LPR/green card): Not affected by TPS termination in the same way, because LPR status is independent.
- Parole: Parole is time-limited and document-specific. It may end on its own date, regardless of TPS.
- DACA: Separate program with its own rules and documents.
- Pending adjustment of status or pending asylum: A pending case may or may not give lawful presence or work permission by itself. The details matter.
Focus on documents. Confusion during a wind-down often comes from mixing up which paper proves what.
✅ Check your TPS-related notices and passport validity now; gather EAD, I-94 (if any), and state ID information to review options and deadlines.
A practical document review usually includes:
- Your EAD category (the code on the card) to confirm it is tied to TPS-based work authorization.
- TPS approval notices and any related USCIS notices.
- Form I-94 (if any), because it may show a separate admission or parole history.
- Passport validity, since travel and departure planning can fall apart with an expired passport.
- Driver’s license or state ID expiration dates, because many states link issuance to lawful presence or work authorization.
- Your current address on file with USCIS, since missed mail can mean missed deadlines. You can use your USCIS online account at my.uscis.gov.
⚠️ If you hold Yemen TPS, verify your current EAD and plan for the wind-down period; review your status and avoid letting deadlines slip, especially for voluntary departure considerations.
Section 4: Work authorization, employers, and benefits during the wind-down
For most TPS holders, work permission is tied to TPS itself. When TPS ends, TPS-based work authorization generally ends too, unless another work-authorized status applies. The wind-down period can act like a short bridge. It is not a long-term fix.
Employers may react quickly because they must follow Form I-9 rules. Many workers fear an employer will immediately terminate them. Some employers will request updated documents near an EAD expiration date or when they learn of a program ending. Reverification has limits, though. Employers generally cannot demand a specific document from you, and they cannot treat workers differently based on nationality or immigration category. The goal is simple: show you remain authorized to work, if you are.
Benefits and “life admin” can also be affected. Driver’s licenses, professional licenses, and some state programs may depend on lawful presence or valid work authorization. States vary. A good approach is to contact the relevant state agency early, ask what document they accept, and confirm renewal windows.
Table 2: Work authorization and status during wind-down (what to expect)
| Status During Wind-Down | What Endures | What Changes After Transition Ends | Impacted Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Yemen TPS holder with EAD tied to TPS | TPS-based protection and TPS-based work authorization generally remain valid during the wind-down, as DHS described | TPS protection and TPS-based work authorization typically end unless another lawful status or work authorization applies | EAD, TPS approval notices, I-9 reverification timing |
| TPS holder with another lawful status (example: valid nonimmigrant status) | The separate status may remain valid under its own rules | TPS ends, but the separate status may still control stay and work permission | I-94, approval notices, passport, status-specific work authorization |
| Person with a pending case (example: pending asylum or adjustment) | The pending case continues under its own process | TPS ends; work permission may depend on a separate EAD category or case stage | Receipt notices, pending-case EAD, biometrics notices |
Section 5: Legal options after TPS and planning for departure if needed
TPS ending does not mean every person must leave. It does mean you should check, fast, whether another lawful path may apply. Options vary, and eligibility is personal. Many factors can change the answer, including unlawful presence history, prior removal orders, criminal issues, and past entries or travel.
Common categories people often explore include:
- Family-based immigration, such as petitions by certain qualifying relatives.
- Employment-based options, sometimes tied to an employer sponsor and strict eligibility rules.
- Adjustment of status, for those who qualify under the law and can meet entry and admissibility requirements.
- Asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), for people who fear persecution or torture and meet legal standards. Deadlines and exceptions can be complex.
- Student status, in limited situations, if someone qualifies and maintains program requirements.
- Other humanitarian options, which may apply in specific circumstances.
Departure planning also deserves clear attention for anyone who may not have a way to stay. Leaving is not just buying a ticket. Keep copies of key records (identity documents, USCIS notices, and proof of time in the United States). Track any pending applications and confirm how departure could affect them. In many cases, staying past the wind-down without lawful status can increase removal risk and may trigger other immigration consequences.
USCIS account tools can help you confirm what you filed and what notices were issued. Start at my.uscis.gov or case-status tools at egov.uscis.gov.
Section 6: Rationale, historical context, and legal challenges to TPS terminations
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the decision followed a review of country conditions and consultations with other agencies. Secretary Noem stated: “After reviewing conditions in the country and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, I determined that Yemen no longer meets the law’s requirements to be designated for Temporary Protected Status. Allowing TPS Yemen beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interest. TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent.”
History matters here because Yemen TPS has existed for a long time. Yemen was initially designated in 2015, then extended or redesignated several times. That longevity is why many families built lives around TPS-based work authorization and stability.
Lawsuits can also shape what happens next. Legal challenges have been filed over TPS terminations for multiple countries, and Yemen’s termination may face similar litigation. Court orders can sometimes pause a termination through an injunction or stay. Timing can change. Outcomes are never guaranteed.
Watch official USCIS and DHS updates, and keep copies of every notice you receive. For USCIS program pages and alerts, start at uscis.gov.
This article covers a policy change with potential legal implications; readers should seek individualized advice from an immigration attorney or accredited representative.
The information reflects the government’s announcement and public guidance as of publication and may be affected by ongoing legal challenges.
Most time-sensitive step: identify the Federal Register publication date for the Yemen TPS termination notice, then count 60 days—that is the wind-down deadline that can shape work, travel, and departure decisions.
