WASHINGTON – The United States government has announced the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals, ordering over 1,000 refugees and asylum seekers to leave the country within 60 days or face arrest and deportation. The decision was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday, marking another step in the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
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Temporary Protected Status was first granted to Yemeni nationals in September 2015 due to the ongoing conflict in the country, allowing them to live and work legally in the US. The program has provided temporary legal protection for roughly 1,400 individuals who fled Yemen’s war-torn environment.
.@DHSgov Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Yemen pic.twitter.com/MsOywmGAWs
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 13, 2026
Noem stated that, after reviewing conditions in Yemen and consulting with relevant agencies, she determined that the country no longer met the legal requirements for TPS. She described the revocation as “putting America first” and said allowing Yemeni beneficiaries to remain temporarily was contrary to national interest.
Despite the administration’s position, Yemen remains engulfed in a humanitarian crisis, with ongoing armed conflict, health system collapse, terrorism threats, widespread crime, and landmines. The US State Department continues to advise against all travel to Yemen due to these dangers.
Eligible Yemeni nationals have 60 days to depart voluntarily. The US government will provide a complimentary plane ticket and a $2,600 “exit bonus” for those who self-deport. Those with no other lawful basis to remain after the deadline risk arrest and removal.
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Since returning to office, President Trump has ended TPS for citizens of several countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Ukraine. The administration has also expanded travel restrictions on citizens from 19 countries, primarily Muslim-majority and African nations, including Yemen.
TPS was historically extended by presidents to protect individuals from conflict or disaster, making the decision to revoke Yemen’s designation a significant shift in US immigration policy.