New York, NY—Today, the Biden administration announced it would extend and re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans who arrived in the United States before September 20, 2023. They will be eligible for TPS for a period of 18 months, from November 21, 2023, to May 20, 2025. Current TPS Afghan holders, whose status was set to expire on November 20, 2023, must re-register between September 25, 2023 and November 24, 2023 to maintain their status and work authorization.
Temporary Protected Status is a temporary immigration status granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals who are unable to return home safely due civil war, natural disaster, or other conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country. During the designated TPS period, TPS holders cannot be deported from the United States and cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and for travel authorization.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Prolonged political violence and instability in Afghanistan continues to force the people of Afghanistan to leave their homes. We commend the Biden administration for extending and re-designating TPS for Afghanistan, which will allow over 3,100 Afghans to retain their TPS, and for another estimated 14,600 to apply for TPS and the work authorization that comes with it. This life-saving status will allow for people to safely build their homes and lives in the United States, and contribute to their local economies and cultures. But it also points to the continued dire need for Congress and President Biden to finally create a permanent pathway to citizenship. In the meantime, the Biden administration must also re-designate TPS for Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal, Haiti, Sudan, South Sudan, and Cameroon, and create new TPS designations for Guatemala, Mauritania, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senegal, Pakistan, and Nigeria. America has a humanitarian obligation to continue providing relief to all immigrants seeking safety and security, and we must take comprehensive action to meet that obligation.”