By SDCN Staff
WASHINGTON–The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, ending a designation that has allowed eligible Yemeni nationals to live and work in the United States on a temporary basis.
The termination will take effect 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register, according to the Department of Homeland Security release.
Yemen was first designated protection status on Sept. 3, 2015, after the U.S. government determined that ongoing armed conflict in the country posed a serious threat to the personal safety of returning nationals. The designation was extended or extended and redesignated in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
In a statement, Noem said that after reviewing current conditions in Yemen and consulting with relevant federal agencies, she determined the country no longer meets the statutory requirements for Temporary Protected Status designation. She added that the status was intended to be temporary and that the administration is restoring the program to what she described as its original purpose.
Under the announcement, Yemeni nationals who have no other lawful basis to remain in the United States will have 60 days to depart voluntarily once the termination takes effect.
The department encouraged individuals choosing to leave to use the CBP Home mobile application to report their departure. Homeland Security said the app offers a process for self-deportation that may include a complimentary plane ticket, a $2,600 exit bonus and the possibility of future legal immigration opportunities.
After the effective date, Homeland Security said Yemeni nationals without lawful status could be subject to arrest and removal. Officials stated that individuals who are ordered removed may face restrictions on returning to the United States in the future.
