US Courts End Protections for Migrants From Myanmar, South Sudan

Two U.S. district judges have rejected legal challenges to the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from South Sudan and Myanmar.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on its website that TPS designation for both countries ended effective August 7. This decision leaves individuals from these nations at risk of deportation. The rulings allow the Trump administration to end TPS for nationals of the two countries, following a Supreme Court decision that permitted the government to remove protections for Haitians and Syrians.

U.S. district judge Patti Saris of the District of Massachusetts issued a ruling on Friday stating the Trump administration could proceed with ending protections for South Sudanese nationals. The Trump administration has succeeded in ending TPS for nearly every country it targeted. The Department of Homeland Security issued alerts confirming the termination of TPS for both South Sudan and Myanmar.

These actions follow previous efforts by the administration to end TPS for other countries. U.S. district judges rejected cases defending temporary protections for migrants from South Sudan and Myanmar. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the termination of TPS for both countries, effective August 7. This action leaves some migrants at risk for deportation. The termination of TPS for these countries means that individuals who were previously protected from deportation and granted work authorization may now face removal proceedings.