What triggers Temporary Protected Status (TPS) eligibility?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) eligibility is triggered by designated extreme circumstances in the country of origin. These circumstances often include ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that prevent safe return to the home country. The designation is made by the Secretary of Homeland Security, who evaluates the situation in the country and determines whether conditions warrant offering TPS to nationals of that country.

This status allows individuals from designated countries to live and work in the U.S. without the fear of deportation while the situation in their home country remains unstable. It reflects an acknowledgment of humanitarian needs arising from severe crises. The requirement for TPS is not based on personal circumstances such as employment discrimination or financial hardship but rather on larger, widespread issues affecting the entire population of the designated nation.