The Trump administration continues targeting immigrant communities by revoking protected statuses for Afghans, Cameroonians, and CBP One entrants
In another series of efforts to target immigrant communities and people seeking safety, the Trump administration revoked legal protections and work authorizations for hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.
On Monday, April 7th, the administration notified people who entered the U.S. using the CBP One app – many whom are in the process of obtaining a permanent status – that their parole status was terminated and they should leave the country immediately. The CBP One app, established in 2023 to support the processing of asylum cases at the southern border, has provided a legal pathway to safety for more than 900,000 people. Using CBP One was a guaranteed way to access asylum for many people escaping violence, persecution, and turmoil in their home countries.
Then on Friday afternoon, April 10th, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from Afghanistan and Cameroon. Decisions to terminate, extend, or redesignate TPS are based on reports and assessments of current country conditions to ensure safe return for displaced people. According to the DHS, Secretary Kristi Noem determined that these countries “no longer continue to meet the statutory requirements” for TPS designations.
TPS for Afghanistan was first granted in 2022 and then extended in 2023 as the Taliban remained in power and conditions continued to decline. Afghan women and girls have been stripped of rights and access to education, employment, freedom of movement and public participation; and Afghans who served alongside members of the U.S. military remain particularly at risk. TPS for Cameroon was extended in 2023, and the country remains in crisis as armed conflict and human rights abuses continue.
Revoking protections for Afghans, Cameroonians, and CBP One entrants – on top of recent moves to terminate TPS for Venezuelans and Haitians, as well as humanitarian parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) – shows the administration’s dangerous pattern of targeting people with legal protections as part of its broader harmful approach to immigration. Stripping these community members of their protected statuses – an approach that federal courts have struck down – threatens to return them to life-threatening situations they were forced to flee. This goes against the values of the broader American public and will ultimately hurt local communities that have welcomed and built lives alongside our newcomer neighbors.
“The Trump administration’s move to terminate parole for individuals who entered the U.S. through the CBP One app is not only deeply concerning but a direct attack on the values of fairness, dignity, and human rights,” said Rahab Kinity, Associate Delegate. “Stripping legal status from vulnerable families and individuals who followed the proper process undermines trust in our immigration system and places countless lives at risk.”
“The decision to terminate TPS for Afghans and Cameroonians, coupled with the uncertainty facing paroled Afghans, is a direct assault on the principles of compassion and human rights. We urge the administration to reconsider this harmful policy and reinstate vital protections for these vulnerable communities,” said Mohibullah Noori, Associate Delegate.
“The termination of TPS is a cruel and unjust decision that puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. TPS was designed to offer safety and stability to individuals fleeing violence, natural disasters, or political turmoil in their home countries. Ending this protection disregards the humanitarian values that the U.S. stands for, reflects a disregard for immigrants who contribute to communities, and undermines the country's commitment to compassion and justice,” said Sohrab Sharghi, Board Member.
“Terminating protections for people seeking safety not only endangers lives, but also undermines the values of compassion and resilience that define our communities. Refugees and asylum seekers contribute deeply to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of this country. Rolling back these protections sends a message of exclusion at a time when solidarity is needed most,” said Paul Mwingwa, Delegate for Montana.
“Taking away legal status from hundreds of thousands of people is more than just a policy change; it’s a humanitarian crisis that affects real lives and the hope that brought people here. Imagine fleeing war, starting over, and now facing deportation. That’s the reality for thousands as TPS and humanitarian parole ends for these communities. It’s heartbreaking and a life-altering threat. Behind every revoked status is a story, a family, and a dream. No one should be sent back to danger,” said Sara Deewa, Delegate for New Mexico.
Refugee Congress strongly opposes this action by the Trump administration. It remains committed to advocating for safe pathways and protections for asylum seekers and other forcibly displaced people seeking safety at our borders. Elected leaders have a responsibility to protect our communities, including those who have been granted protected statuses and are working to support their families and contribute to the cities, towns, and neighborhoods that have welcomed them. We urge Congress members to uphold the rights and dignity of people seeking safety by working toward compassionate, humane policies and by holding the administration accountable amidst its ongoing attempts to target and harm immigrant communities.
