Washington, D.C. – Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is deeply concerned about the fate of Afghans and Cameroonians whose lives are now at risk due to the administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for individuals from Afghanistan and Cameroon.
TPS provides legal status to individuals from designated countries that are unsafe to return to due to armed conflicts, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS recipients are protected from deportation and can legally work in the United States.
“Stripping stability and protection for more than 9,000 Afghans and 3,000 Cameroonians is inhumane,” said Kristyn Peck, CEO of LSSNCA. “This decision places our neighbors at risk of deportation to life-threatening conditions where they may face persecution or violence. It is a betrayal to Afghans who have supported U.S. missions and whose lives are at risk as a result. We urge the administration to reconsider this decision.”
When a country’s TPS designation ends, individuals not eligible for other immigration benefits may become subject to removal. Under this decision, Afghans with TPS will lose their protections in May and Cameroonians in June.
LSSNCA urges the administration to reverse course and uphold our country’s legacy as a safe haven for people seeking humanitarian protection.
