United States | USCIS posts update on TPS designations for Ethiopia, South Sudan and Yemen

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published updates on the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Ethiopia and South Sudan, extending the validity dates for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) per respective court orders. USCIS also announced that EADs with category A12 or C19 issued to TPS beneficiaries from Yemen are no longer valid, as the country’s TPS designation is terminated.

Key takeaways:

In the alert posted for Yemen, USCIS states “the Yemen TPS designation is terminated, effective July 20, 2026. Employers [completing Form I-9] must reverify TPS Yemen beneficiaries who presented these EADs and cannot continue employing a person who does not provide proof of current employment authorization.”

In the respective alerts posted for Ethiopia and South Sudan to the agency’s I-9 Central webpage, USCIS directs employers that “[w]hen completing the Expiration Date (if any) fields on Form I-9, input ‘as per court order’ in Section 1 and ‘Aug. 6, 2026’ in Section 2 along with a note in the additional information box. Employers may download the Alert and TPS [designated country] webpage and attach them to Form I-9. When completing a case in E-Verify, enter the expiration date of ‘Aug. 6, 2026’ from the Form I-9. Check USCIS websites regularly for updated information.”

Both updates state that the extensions are “limited relief until the lower courts align with the U.S. Supreme Court’s favorable decision in Mullin v. Doe, 609 U.S. (2026), issued on June 25, 2026.”

Ethiopia: According to the update, “The validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under the TPS designation of Ethiopia with an original expiration date of June 12, 2024, and Dec. 12, 2025, is extended per court order. African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al., No. 26-cv-10278-BEM (D. Mass.).”

South Sudan: According to the update, “The validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under the TPS designation of South Sudan with an original expiration date of Nov. 3, 2023, May 3, 2025, or Nov. 3, 2025, is extended per court order. African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al., No. 25-cv-13939-PBS (D. Mass.).”

Additional Information: The updates for Ethiopia, South Sudan and Yemen supersede the guidance issued on July 17. Individuals should continue to check the respective USCIS TPS country pages for current information.

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

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