This article was last updated on July 17, 2026

Summary

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a U.S. government program that helps people from certain countries stay in the United States legally when it is not safe to return to their home countries due to problems such as war or natural disasters. If you have valid TPS status, you can live and work in the U.S. for a limited time. 

However, on June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court made a decision that will effectively allow the Trump administration to end TPS for most countries.

In this decision the Supreme Court announced that:

• The Trump administration is allowed to end TPS for Syria and Haiti. This means that TPS for these two countries will likely end 32 days after the Supreme Court decision (July 27, 2026), unless the district courts decide something different.
• Federal courts are not allowed to review and decide if the government's decision to end TPS was lawful, based on the TPS law.
• Federal courts are allowed to review and decide if the government’s decision to end TPS violated the U.S. Constitution, but that will be difficult to prove.

TPS is still in place for some countries. However, if you have valid TPS status today, it is possible that your status may change in the near future. See here for a list of TPS status per country. 

Some people who lose their TPS status may be able to stay in the United States through a different immigration pathway. This article outlines some legal pathways to stay in the United States that may be relevant to people in this situation. However, it does not cover every single pathway that exists, because the U.S. immigration system is very complex.

To learn which options may be available to you, you should talk to a licensed, qualified immigration attorney. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists. 

Family-based immigration

If you are the close relative of a person who has lawful status in the United States, you may have a pathway to permanent resident status through them. 

In particular, if you are the spouse, child, parent, or sibling of a U.S. citizen, or if you are the spouse or unmarried minor child of a green card holder (LPR), that person may be able to file an application for you to become an Legal Permentant Resident (LPR) by submitting a form called the “I-130.” 

The I-130 family-based immigration process requires filing fees. The person applying for you will also need to agree to financially sponsor you, and they will need to meet certain requirements related to financial sponsorship.

It is also important to understand that certain categories of applicants face very long wait times before they can receive a green card, even after their initial I-130 form is approved. For some people, this wait time can last over ten years.

If you think you might be eligible for this process, you should talk to a licensed, qualified attorney as soon as possible. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here.

Employment-based immigration

Some people can get legal permission to live in the United States, either temporarily or permanently, through employment-based immigration options. There are many different visa types that fall under this category. For most of them, you cannot apply on your own. Your employer must start the application process. 

If you think your current employer might be able to sponsor you for a work visa, you may want to approach your employer directly to discuss this further. You should also talk to a licensed, qualified attorney as soon as possible. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here.

Asylum and other humanitarian pathways

If you are afraid to return to your country of origin because you have been harmed in the past or think you will be harmed in the future because of something specific about yourself – like your race, religion, political views, or something else that you cannot change or should not have to change – you may qualify for asylum in the United States.

In general, you must apply for asylum before one year has passed since your arrival in the United States. However, you can qualify for an exception from this rule if you had another form of status, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS). If you did not already apply for asylum while you had TPS, you should apply as soon as possible after your status expires. You can find more information about applying for asylum here.

In addition to asylum, there are other forms of humanitarian immigration options available to some people, including certain survivors and victims of abuse, trafficking, and serious crimes.

If you are interested in applying for asylum or other humanitarian immigration options, you should also talk to a licensed, qualified attorney as soon as possible. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here.

I’ve heard about self-deportation. What does this mean?

The U.S. government is encouraging people to use their CBP Home mobile application to “self-deport” if you do not have lawful immigration status in the United States. They are promising financial and travel assistance for people who choose this option. However, you may face unwanted long-term consequences if you choose this option without fully understanding the risks and benefits of the decision.

If you recently lost your TPS status and are thinking about departing the United States on your own or registering your departure as a “self-deportation” using the CBP Home app, you should talk to a licensed, qualified attorney as soon as possible. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here.

Additional information and resources

How To Approach Your Employer For Visa Sponsorship (Higher Ed Immigration Portal) 

Employment-Based Immigration Fact Sheet (ACLU Idaho) 

General Orientation to Asylum (ASAP)

How to Apply for Asylum (USA Hello) 

Know Your Rights: CBP Home (National Immigration Law Center)

The Costs of Self-Deportation (National Immigration Project)