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The Department of Homeland Security announced it will terminate Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for thousands of Afghans in the U.S. including in Minnesota. 

TPS allows people fleeing violence, political unrest and instability temporary protection from deportation and immediate work permits.

“We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation,” U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement posted to DHS’ 

Noem said Afghanistan is becoming safer and more economically stable, which she said will no longer prevent Afghans from returning to their home country.

“Additionally, the termination furthers the national interest as DHS records indicate that there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security. Reviewing TPS designations is a key part of restoring integrity in our immigration system,” Noem said in the statement. 

The statement did not provide further details to support the claims of fraud or threats to public safety. 

In Minnesota, advocates say it’s still unclear what the impact will be. Zack Albun is the legal director for The Advocates for Human Rights. Albun says when it comes to TPS, cases vary. He emphasized the need for TPS holders to consult qualified immigration attorneys for advice.

“The end of TPS by itself does not affect any other status a person may have,” Albun said. “So if someone has a green card, they're still going to have that green card. If someone has an asylum application that's pending with either USCIS or the immigration court, they're still going to have that asylum application. If they have work authorization that's tied to their asylum application, rather than TPS, that work authorization will remain valid.”

Minnesota’s Afghan community is feeling that uncertainty. 

Nasreen Sajady, executive director at Afghan Cultural Society in Minneapolis, expressed concern over the safety and economic instability in Afghanistan. She questions how people would survive if forced to go back to their country. 

“If you talk to anyone that lives there, or anyone that has family there who's not associated with the Taliban, they would not consider Afghanistan safe,” Sajady said. “They would not consider the financial situation there stable, especially because there's so many women who are not allowed to work and they can't support their families.”

Sajady said her organization helps people navigate an often complicated immigration system. She said the organization is now working to identify people in the community who may be affected by the end of TPS, and it’s continuing to provide updates to the community as more information becomes available.

The TPS designation for Afghanistan expires on May 20 and the termination will be effective on July 12.

Sarah Thamer

Author

The status allows people fleeing violence, political unrest and instability temporary protection from deportation and immediate work permits. The Department of Homeland Security says Afghanistan is becoming safer and the country no longer meets the requirements, but some community advocates disagree. 

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Two women wearing traditional Afghan dresses smile

DHS ends Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan, raising concerns for Minnesota’s Afghan community

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