The United States designated Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on March 16, 2022, due to the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in the country preventing Afghan nationals from safely returning. This designation offers temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to eligible Afghan nationals already present in the U.S.
Reasons for Designation: The decision to grant TPS was rooted in the precarious situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The State Department cited several factors, including:
- Ongoing Armed Conflict: Continued fighting and instability pose significant risks to civilians.
- Human Rights Abuses: Reports of widespread human rights violations, particularly against women and girls, persist under Taliban rule.
- Economic Crisis: Afghanistan’s economy has been severely impacted, leading to widespread poverty and food insecurity.
- Humanitarian Crisis: A severe humanitarian crisis, characterized by lack of access to essential services like healthcare and education, further complicates the situation.
Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for TPS under the Afghanistan designation, applicants generally must:
- Be a national of Afghanistan, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan.
- Have continuously resided in the United States since March 15, 2022.
- Have been continuously physically present in the United States since the date of the initial TPS designation for Afghanistan (unless a waiver applies).
- Undergo and pass required security and background checks.
Applicants are generally ineligible for TPS if they:
- Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States.
- Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum, including participating in the persecution of another individual, engaging in terrorist activities, or having been convicted of a particularly serious crime.
- Fail to meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements.
Duration and Re-designation: The initial designation lasted for 18 months, from May 20, 2022, through November 20, 2023. The Department of Homeland Security has since re-designated and extended Afghanistan for TPS. The most recent extension, announced in 2024, extends the designation through November 26, 2025, with a re-registration period for current beneficiaries. Re-designation allows individuals who have entered the U.S. after the initial cutoff date but before the re-designation cutoff date to apply for TPS.
Importance of TPS: TPS provides a crucial lifeline for Afghan nationals in the U.S. who cannot safely return to their home country. It allows them to live and work legally in the U.S., contributing to the economy and supporting their families. It also prevents the U.S. from deporting individuals into a dangerous and unstable environment. While TPS is a temporary measure, it offers a degree of stability and security to a vulnerable population during a time of crisis.