US ends Temporary Protected Status for South Sudanese nationals
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday that South Sudanese living in the US will have a 60-day grace period to leave before deportation proceedings begin in early January.
South Sudan, a country still grappling with the aftermath of civil war and ongoing humanitarian crises, now faces a new challenge as the United States moves to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for its nationals.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday that South Sudanese living in the US will have a 60-day grace period to leave before deportation proceedings begin in early January.
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TPS is a US humanitarian programme that provides protection from deportation and work authorisation for nationals from countries affected by war, natural disasters, or other crises. The designation for South Sudan has been in place for more than a decade, shielding citizens who fled violence and instability.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has faced repeated violent conflicts. A civil war between 2013 and 2018 left an estimated 400,000 people dead, and large parts of the population continue to suffer insecurity and limited access to basic necessities. According to a UN-backed hunger monitor, food insecurity and malnutrition remain “extremely high” in the country, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian challenges.
DHS stated that South Sudan no longer meets the conditions for TPS. The program has so far protected approximately 232 South Sudanese nationals, with 73 applications still pending. The revocation of their protected status means these individuals now face the prospect of returning to a country still struggling with the effects of war, displacement, and severe food shortages.
The termination of TPS for South Sudanese nationals is part of a broader immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump, who has sought to revoke legal protections from hundreds of thousands of migrants from multiple countries under his “America First” agenda.
Nationals from Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and other countries have also seen their TPS status revoked, though some of these cases are facing legal challenges in US courts.
For South Sudanese nationals, the revocation of TPS now creates an urgent and uncertain situation, as returning to their home country could mean facing ongoing instability, limited resources, and the lingering effects of years of civil war.
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