Michigan – The American Center for Justice (ACJ) has sent an official letter to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (U.S. Department of Homeland Security – DHS), calling for the continuation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals residing in the United States, in light of the ongoing armed conflict and the comprehensive humanitarian collapse in Yemen.
The American Center for Justice affirmed that conditions in Yemen clearly continue to meet the legal criteria set forth under Section 244 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These conditions include the persistence of armed conflict, the absence of effective state institutions, the widespread collapse of healthcare and public services, and the severe deterioration of security and food conditions—circumstances that render any forced return a direct threat to civilian lives.
In its letter, the Center urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to continue designating Yemen as a country eligible for the TPS program and to ensure sustained legal and humanitarian protection for Yemeni nationals, in accordance with American humanitarian values and the United States’ international human rights obligations.
For his part, ACJ Executive Director and attorney Abdulrahman Barman stated that, according to the most recent official statistics issued on September 30, 2024, approximately 1,975 Yemeni nationals were covered under the TPS program within the United States. He noted that this number later declined to approximately 1,380 individuals, as several beneficiaries obtained lawful permanent residence (Green Cards) after benefiting from the program.
Barman further indicated that a number of Yemeni nationals currently present in the United States remain eligible for Temporary Protected Status; however, their applications are still pending with immigration authorities. He emphasized that this situation necessitates facilitating procedures and expediting the adjudication of applications, given the serious risks associated with returning them to Yemen.
He also added that Yemenis granted TPS represent a very small percentage compared to the total number of TPS beneficiaries overall. According to data from the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS), the total number of TPS beneficiaries in the United States as of March 31, 2025, reached approximately 1,297,635 individuals of various nationalities, underscoring the importance of the TPS program as a fundamental humanitarian protection mechanism within the U.S. immigration system.
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