New York, NY—Today, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan. The move will make individuals from South Sudan ineligible for Temporary Protective Status nationally, and will remove access to work permits and protection from deportation for those South Sudanese holding TPS. About 5000 individuals from South Sudan live in the U.S.
As of now, it is unclear when the TPS termination for South Sudan will take effect.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“At a time when South Sudan is mired in armed conflicts, mass displacement, and severe famine, it’s cruel and heartless to strip legal status from South Sudanese people living in America, especially since the conditions in their homeland make it impossible for them to return. The Trump administration is playing politics with their lives, forcing our neighbors into legal limbo and putting them at risk of deportation—even though they followed every legal requirement to remain in the United States. In New York, our South Sudanese neighbors have built their lives, contributed to our economy, and strengthened our communities for years. Now, with no clear path forward, these same families are being forced into the shadows or risk deportation to a country that remains unsafe. We call on the Trump Administration to immediately reverse this action and demand that Congress create permanent legal pathways to uphold our country’s longstanding humanitarian values, protect our immigrant families, and keep our economy stable and our communities strong.”