The Trump administration announced on Friday that it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals residing in the United States, granting affected beneficiaries a 60-day period to depart the country. In an official statement, Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, stated that she had determined Yemen no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS designation and that allowing Yemeni beneficiaries to remain temporarily in the United States would be contrary to national interest. She emphasized that the administration is prioritizing national security and putting America first. According to DHS, Yemeni TPS holders without another lawful basis to remain in the United States have 60 days to voluntarily depart. The agency encouraged individuals to register through the CBP One application, under which participants may receive reimbursement for airfare, a $2,600 exit bonus, and potential future legal immigration opportunities. DHS further indicated that those who remain beyond the expiration of the program may face arrest, detention, and removal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with deportations typically carrying a 10-year re-entry bar.
Travel Advisory Remains at Level 4 as Former Michigan Mayor Calls Decision “Very Unfortunate”
Yemen was first designated for TPS in September 2015 amid escalating conflict, including airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition targeting Houthi positions after the capital, Sanaa, fell under Houthi control and the country’s longtime president went into exile. The designation has been renewed multiple times—in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024—reflecting ongoing instability. Despite the administration’s determination, the U.S. State Department continues to list Yemen under its highest travel advisory, Level 4 – Do Not Travel, citing terrorism, unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, and landmines. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa suspended operations in February 2015. In comments to Middle East Eye, Amer Ghalib, former mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan—a city with one of the largest Yemeni-American communities—described the move as very unfortunate and said it did not appear that the administration had taken certain considerations into account. Ghalib, who publicly supported President Donald Trump during the 2024 election cycle, questioned the policy in light of Yemen’s continued travel advisory status and security concerns. The Pentagon conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets as recently as last year, and reports indicate that Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of Yemeni journalists. Under U.S. law, TPS does not provide a pathway to permanent residency and is subject to periodic review, typically every 18 months.