What Happens if TPS Ends in New Jersey

Woman holding documents outside her home, reflecting on what happens when TPS ends in New Jersey.

When a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation ends, beneficiaries generally lose that temporary protection in New Jersey and throughout the United States.

This can affect their employment authorization, protection from deportation, and ability to remain in the country if they have no other immigration status or form of relief.

If you are facing this situation, our immigration lawyers serving New Jersey can review your case and determine which immigration options may be available to you.

Let us know about your case We can help you

What Happens if TPS Ends for People in New Jersey?

When a TPS designation ends, beneficiaries lose the protection provided by that immigration relief as of the effective date established by the government.

As a result, they may lose benefits such as:

What happens next depends on each person’s immigration history. Someone with another valid immigration status or benefit may continue to be protected under that status.

However, someone with no other legal basis for remaining in the United States may face the risk of deportation.

Is TPS Still in Effect Today?

There is no single answer for all beneficiaries. Whether TPS remains in effect or ends depends on the designation for each country.

For example, the situation involving TPS for Honduras differs from that of other countries whose designations are still in effect.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may:

  • Extend a designation. You can review how a TPS extension works and what happens when protection and work authorization are renewed.
  • Terminate a designation if it determines that the country no longer meets the requirements.
  • Redesignate a country when the legal requirements are met.
  • If DHS does not make a determination within the applicable time frame, the law may automatically extend the designation for six months.

What Should You Check to Find Out Whether TPS Is Still in Effect?

A court ruling may also temporarily block a termination or change its effective date.

That is why you should verify:

  • Which country the announcement concerns.
  • Which designation is affected.
  • The effective date.
  • Whether a court order is currently in effect.
  • What happens to employment authorization documents.

You can verify official information on the Department of Homeland Security’s TPS page.

Woman reviewing information on a community center bulletin board with assistance from a staff member.

What Happens to Your Immigration Status When TPS Ends?

The end of TPS does not automatically grant another immigration status.

Your situation will depend on what immigration status or benefits you have apart from TPS. For example:

  • If you maintain another valid immigration status, you may remain protected under that status.
  • If you obtained another immigration benefit, your ability to stay may depend on that benefit.
  • If you have no other protection, you may once again be left without lawful immigration status.
  • If you have a prior removal order, the end of TPS may make it necessary to review your case immediately.

Can You Accrue Unlawful Presence After TPS Ends?

If TPS ends and you have no other immigration status or protection, you may begin accruing unlawful presence, depending on your circumstances.

This can create problems when you leave the United States:

  • More than 180 days: You may trigger a three-year bar to reentry.
  • One year or more: You may trigger a 10-year bar to reentry.
Man holding a folder while looking out of a train window, illustrating uncertainty about immigration status after TPS ends.

Can You Continue Working After TPS Expires?

Not necessarily. A TPS-based work permit should not be assumed to remain valid indefinitely after a designation ends.

USCIS explains that the validity of TPS-based employment authorization documents depends on the rules applicable to each designation. In some cases, certain EADs may receive an automatic extension or remain valid under a specific USCIS notice.

Before continuing to work, you should check:

  • Your EAD category.
  • Its expiration date.
  • The notice that applies to your country.
  • Whether USCIS announced an automatic extension.
  • Whether you have another independent basis for employment authorization.

If the termination affects your EAD, you can also review how to obtain employment authorization in the United States.

Can You Be Deported When TPS Ends?

Important: The end of TPS does not mean that someone will automatically be deported the next day. However, if they no longer have TPS or another immigration status or protection, they may become subject to removal proceedings.

The level of risk depends on factors such as:

  • Whether you have a prior removal order.
  • Whether you currently have a case before an immigration court.
  • Whether you have another pending immigration application.
  • Whether you may qualify for a form of immigration relief.
  • Whether DHS initiates or continues removal proceedings.

People facing this situation can review options for stopping removal proceedings.

If proceedings are already underway, you can also check the official EOIR immigration case information system.

What Immigration Options Are Available After TPS Ends?

TPS may end, but that does not mean everyone is left without immigration options.

Depending on your case, you may need to consider:

  • A family-based immigration petition.
  • A possible path to a Green Card with TPS if you qualify through another immigration pathway.
  • An employment-based immigration category.
  • Asylum or another form of humanitarian protection, if you meet the applicable requirements.
  • A motion to reopen a case.
  • An immigration appeal.
  • Cancellation of removal if you are in removal proceedings and meet the requirements.
  • Other immigration benefits that may be available based on your circumstances.

Having held TPS does not automatically qualify you for any of these options. Each benefit has its own requirements.

Two people discussing their future on a waterfront bench, representing immigration options after TPS ends.

Can I Apply for Cancellation of Removal After TPS?

In some cases, cancellation of removal may be an option. However, it is only available when you are in formal removal proceedings and meet the applicable requirements.

Eligibility for cancellation of removal depends on specific criteria, including:

  • How long you have been present in the United States.
  • Good moral character.
  • Certain criminal convictions or records.
  • The hardship that removal would cause to certain qualifying family members.

What Should I Do if My TPS Is About to End?

The most important thing is not to wait until after the termination date to review your case. You should:

  • Confirm the official end date of your country’s designation.
  • Check the latest TPS news using official sources only.
  • Verify the validity of your EAD.
  • Gather your immigration documents.
  • Review any pending petitions or applications.
  • Find out whether you have a removal order.
  • Check the status of any proceedings before EOIR.
  • Evaluate other immigration options before your protection ends.

You should also keep copies of your:

  • TPS approval notices.
  • Forms I-797.
  • Previous and current EADs.
  • I-94 records.
  • Passports.
  • Travel documents.
  • Family-based or employment-based petitions.
  • Documents related to immigration proceedings.

If you are still waiting for a decision on your application, we encourage you to review how long TPS takes to be approved and check whether USCIS has sent any notices related to your case.

What Happens to Workers With TPS in New Jersey?

The termination of TPS may affect employment authorization. If the EAD associated with that protection also expires, the person may lose the ability to work legally under that permit.

In New Jersey, this change could affect thousands of workers. According to data from the Congressional Research Service, the state had approximately 46,360 TPS beneficiaries in March 2025.

For those who rely on a TPS-based EAD, losing that authorization could lead to:

  • Job loss.
  • Difficulty finding a new job.
  • Problems proving work authorization to an employer.
Two warehouse workers discussing workplace concerns, illustrating the potential employment consequences of TPS termination.

Do You Also Lose Your Workplace Rights?

New Jersey continues to provide protections for immigrant workers concerning:

  • Wages.
  • Working conditions.
  • Retaliation.
  • Other workplace rights.

The New Jersey Department of Labor provides information about immigrant workers’ rights.

These protections do not replace federal employment authorization. You must therefore verify separately whether your EAD remains valid.

What Are the Latest TPS Updates?

Throughout 2026, Temporary Protected Status has undergone significant changes affecting several countries. Some designations remain in effect, while others have already ended.

Congress has also considered proposals to create more permanent immigration solutions for certain TPS beneficiaries. However, a proposal or bill does not change anyone’s current immigration status unless it becomes law.

October 2026: Temporary Continuation of TPS for Ukraine and Sudan

On October 19, 2026, DHS announced that TPS beneficiaries from Ukraine and Sudan would retain their protection for the time being, even though the designations were scheduled to expire that day. According to a report published on October 19, officials had not yet announced a new definitive end date. The validity of each work permit must be checked against the applicable official guidance.

September 2026: El Salvador, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Sudan

September 10

As of September 9, 2026, DHS had not published a formal determination on whether to extend or terminate TPS for El Salvador. USCIS stated that current beneficiaries would retain their protection and employment authorization while awaiting a decision.

Beneficiaries should check upcoming USCIS guidance on how long this protection will last and whether their work permits remain valid.

September 9

TPS for Venezuela has already ended for most beneficiaries. The situation currently breaks down as follows:

  • 2023 designation: Ended in April 2025.
  • 2021 designation: Ended in November 2025.
  • Limited exception: A small group of beneficiaries who received certain TPS-related documents on or before February 5, 2025, with an October 2, 2026 expiration date retained the validity of those documents and the corresponding employment authorization through that date.
  • Litigation status: The petition concerning TPS for Venezuela was distributed for the Supreme Court’s September 28, 2026 conference. Being listed for a conference does not mean the Court has agreed to hear the case.

The existence of ongoing litigation does not, by itself, mean that TPS has been restored for all Venezuelans.

September 3

In September, USCIS reported that the TPS designations for Ukraine and Sudan were scheduled to end on October 19, 2026.

Subsequently, on October 19, DHS announced that protection would continue for the time being. Any subsequent announcements and USCIS instructions on EAD validity should be reviewed.

August 2026

August 18

TPS for Ethiopia ended after a court lifted the judicial protection that had delayed the termination.

Although parts of the litigation may continue, that lawsuit does not currently keep TPS in effect.

August 14

The termination of TPS for Somalia took effect after a court lifted the order that had delayed its implementation.

August 7

USCIS confirmed the termination of TPS for Burma, also known as Myanmar, and South Sudan after the court orders that had delayed those actions were no longer in effect.

July 2026: Changes for Yemen, Haiti, and Syria

July 27

The TPS designations for Haiti and Syria ended following several court developments that had temporarily affected when those decisions would take effect.

July 20

TPS for Yemen also ended in July 2026.

June 2026: Supreme Court Decision

June 25

On June 25, the Supreme Court issued a decision concerning legal challenges to the termination of TPS for Haiti and Syria.

The Court ruled that the plaintiffs were not entitled to keep those terminations on hold while litigation continued. The decision also limited the scope of certain legal challenges to TPS decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Happens if TPS Ends

What Will Happen to People Who Have TPS?

It depends on the designation for their country and their individual immigration circumstances. If TPS ends and they have no other immigration status or benefit, they may lose protection from deportation and become subject to removal proceedings.

What Happens if TPS Expires in the United States?

TPS protection ends when the termination takes effect. What happens afterward depends on whether the person maintains another status, has a pending application, or has another immigration option.

Can You Continue Working After TPS Expires?

Only if you still have valid employment authorization. Some terminations have specific rules governing the validity of certain EADs, so you should check the notice applicable to your country.

Can You Be Deported if Your TPS Ends?

You may face deportation if you no longer have another legal basis to remain in the United States. However, deportation does not happen automatically simply because TPS expires.

How Long Does TPS Last in the United States?

TPS designations are granted for specified periods and may be extended or terminated by DHS. The exact duration depends on the country and the applicable federal decisions.

New Jersey Immigration Lawyers Who Can Explain What Happens if TPS Ends

The end of TPS can affect each person differently.

Some people may have another immigration petition pending, others may maintain a different immigration status, and others may become subject to removal proceedings.

At Curbelo Law, our immigration lawyers serving New Jersey can review your immigration history, determine which protections you still have, and assess which immigration options may be available after TPS ends.

Let us know about your case We can help you