United States | DHS terminates designation of Syria for TPS effective Nov. 21

The Department of Homeland Security published notice of the termination of the designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), effective Nov. 21, 2025.

Key Points:

• The DHS Secretary determined that “while some sporadic and episodic violence occurs in Syria, the situation no longer meets the criteria for an ongoing armed conflict that poses a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Syrian nationals.”
• Through the Sept. 22 Federal Register notice, DHS automatically extends the validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) previously issued under the TPS designation of Syria through Nov. 21, 2025. As proof of continued employment authorization through Nov. 21, 2025, TPS beneficiaries can show their EADs that have the notation A-12 or C-19 under “Category” and a “Card Expires” date of Sept. 9, 2022; March 10, 2024; and Sept. 10, 2025.
• After Nov. 21, 2025, Syrian nationals (and nonimmigrants having no nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) who have been granted TPS under Syria’s designation will no longer have TPS.
• BAL continues to monitor related legal developments.

Additional Information: DHS estimates that there are 6,132 current approved beneficiaries and reports that as of Sept. 8, 2025, there are 833 total pending applications for the designation of Syria for TPS.

Syria was initially designated for TPS on March 29, 2012, based on a determination that extraordinary and temporary conditions in Syria prevented nationals of Syria from returning in safety and that permitting such nonimmigrants to remain temporarily in the U.S. would not be contrary to U.S. national interests. Following the initial designation, the former Secretary extended and newly designated Syria for TPS three times based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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