Your TPS Was Terminated: A Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Your Immigration Status

If your Temporary Protected Status has been terminated, you are not alone, and you are not without options. More than one million TPS holders across the United States are facing the same question right now: what happens next?

The Trump administration has terminated TPS designations for more than ten countries since 2025, affecting families who have lived, worked, and raised children in the United States for years, in many cases, decades. The fear is real. But so are the legal pathways that may still be available to you.

This guide explains exactly what TPS termination means, which countries are affected, what active lawsuits may protect you, and the alternative immigration paths you should explore immediately. At Aftalion Law Group, we have helped hundreds of TPS holders in Los Angeles, New York, and nationwide navigate this crisis, and we can help you, too.

What TPS Termination Means for You

When the government terminates TPS for your country, it means that after your current designation expires, you will no longer have work authorisation or protection from deportation under the TPS program. However, there are critical nuances:

You do not become deportable the day the termination is announced. Each country has a specific wind-down date, and federal court injunctions have paused some terminations. Your existing TPS and Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) remain valid until the expiration date printed on your documents or until a court order says otherwise.

The most important thing to understand is that TPS termination does not mean you have zero immigration options. It means your TPS-specific protection is ending, and you need to explore alternative pathways immediately.

Countries Affected by TPS Termination (2025–2026)

The following countries have had their TPS designations terminated or are facing imminent termination. Litigation status is current as of April 2026, but court rulings can change rapidly.

Important: This table reflects the most current information available as of the date of publication. TPS litigation is evolving daily. Contact an immigration attorney to confirm the current status for your specific country.

Active Lawsuits That May Protect You

Several TPS terminations are being challenged in federal court, and some courts have issued injunctions that temporarily block the government from ending TPS protections while litigation continues.

If a court injunction is in place for your country, it means your TPS may remain valid beyond the announced termination date, but only as long as the court order remains in effect. These protections are temporary and can be reversed if an appellate court overturns the injunction.

Key cases to watch include the Ramos v. Nielsen litigation (covering Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, and related countries) and newer challenges filed in 2025–2026 targeting the most recent terminations. Your immigration attorney can tell you whether a current court order applies to your specific situation.

Do not assume you are protected by a lawsuit you read about online. Court orders have specific geographic and temporal limits. The only way to know whether an injunction applies to you is to have an attorney review your individual case.

Alternative Immigration Paths If TPS Ends

When TPS holders ask what to do after TPS is terminated, the answer depends entirely on their personal circumstances. Here are the most common alternative pathways:

Family-Based Adjustment of Status. If you are married to a U.S. citizen or have U.S. citizen children over the age of 21, you may be eligible to adjust your status to lawful permanent resident (green card holder) through a family petition. This is often the strongest path for long-term TPS holders.

Asylum. If conditions in your home country qualify—and for many TPS-designated countries, they do—you may be eligible for asylum. Asylum protects individuals who have experienced or fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The one-year filing deadline applies, but exceptions exist.

U Visa. If you have been a victim of a qualifying crime in the United States and assisted law enforcement, you may be eligible for a U visa regardless of your current immigration status.

VAWA Self-Petition. If you have experienced abuse by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides a pathway to protection and legal status.

Cancellation of Removal. If you have been continuously present in the United States for ten or more years, have good moral character, and can demonstrate that removal would cause exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member, you may be eligible for cancellation of removal in immigration court.

Each of these pathways has specific eligibility requirements and deadlines. An immigration attorney can evaluate which options apply to your situation.

Can You Get a Green Card with TPS?

This is one of the most common questions TPS holders ask, and the answer depends on how you entered the United States and which federal circuit you live in.

If you entered the United States lawfully (with a visa, through a port of entry with inspection, or through another lawful channel), you may be able to adjust your status to permanent resident through an eligible family petition while still in the U.S.

If you entered without inspection (crossed the border without authorization), the situation is more complex. Some federal circuits, including the Sixth, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits, have held that a TPS grant constitutes an “admission” for purposes of adjustment of status, meaning you may still be able to adjust. Other circuits have not adopted this interpretation.

This is a critical legal distinction that depends on where you live and which court has jurisdiction over your case. Do not rely on general information; consult an immigration attorney who can analyze your specific circumstances.

What to Do RIGHT NOW If Your TPS Was Terminated

If your country’s TPS has been terminated, take these steps immediately:

Step 1: Renew your TPS and EAD if the renewal window is still open. Even if termination has been announced, you may still be eligible to renew under an existing court order or wind-down period. Do not let your documents expire without attempting renewal.

Step 2: Consult an immigration attorney immediately. Do not wait until your TPS expires. The earlier you begin exploring alternatives, the more options you will have. Aftalion Law Group offers consultations in English and Spanish from our Beverly Hills and New York offices.

Step 3: Gather all of your documents. Collect your entry records, tax returns, employment history, family ties documentation (marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates), and any criminal history records. These documents will be essential for evaluating alternative pathways.

Step 4: Explore every alternative pathway. Family petitions, asylum, U visas, VAWA, cancellation of removal, your attorney should evaluate every possible option.

Step 5: Do NOT leave the United States without legal advice. Travelling outside the country when your TPS is ending could have severe immigration consequences, including triggering bars to reentry. Get legal counsel before making any travel decisions.