Trump Administration Moves to Strip Cameroonians of Temporary Protected Status, Effective August 4
The Trump administration has given notice in the Federal Register that it is withdrawing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonians in the United States, effective August 4. This move could potentially lead to deportation for thousands of Texas residents, as reported by Houston Public Media.
Texas hosts the second-largest community in the U.S. of people from the West African nation of Cameroon. According to Ryan Downer, legal director of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, "For about the past decade, Cameroon has been in a state of armed conflict. About 6,000 people have been killed. As a result of the conflict, more than a million people have been displaced, either internally or to neighboring countries. And this is a clash between government forces and armed separatists in the country, and there have been multiple terrorist attacks over the course of that time."
TPS is designed to provide temporary haven in the U.S. for migrants from countries where their lives might be in danger if they were forced to return due to conditions such as wars or environmental disasters. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee and other civil rights organizations previously sued the Trump administration when it signaled its plan to end TPS for Cameroonians and Afghans without providing the required 60 days’ notice.
As noted by Houston Public Media, the Department of Homeland Security subsequently published a notice in mid-May stating that TPS for Afghans would end on July 14. However, Downer argued that the administration is still not complying with the statute, as the law requires the notice to be given 60 days before the current grant of TPS is set to expire. In the case of Cameroonians, that date is June 7.
"Because there was no termination notice issued 60 days prior to the expiration date," Downer said, "the statute says there’s an automatic six-month extension." If a judge agrees, this would extend Temporary Protected Status for Cameroonians to December of this year.
The implications of the Trump administration’s move are significant, and Houston Public Media reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Wednesday. The Trump administration’s moves follow a victory in the Supreme Court, in which eight of the nine justices ruled that the White House had the power to end TPS for thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S.
According to Downer, "That decision didn’t have a lot of reasonings, unfortunately, so it’s difficult to decipher exactly what the Supreme Court was doing there other than what was presented in the text of the opinion, which is just granting a stay of the district court’s order in that case, but we don’t know yet what the implications are going to be."
The Trump administration’s decision to strip Cameroonians of Temporary Protected Status has significant implications for the thousands of individuals who will be affected. As Houston Public Media reports, the move is a concerning development for those who have been living in the U.S. under TPS and may face deportation.
The situation highlights the complexities of the U.S. immigration system and the impact of policy changes on vulnerable populations. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential to consider the human implications of the Trump administration’s decision and the potential consequences for those affected.
In related news, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs continues to advocate for the rights of TPS holders and those affected by the Trump administration’s policies. The organisation’s efforts aim to provide support and resources to those navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.
For more information on Temporary Protected Status and the Trump administration’s policies, readers can visit the Houston Public Media website. The organisation provides in-depth coverage of the issue and its implications for those affected.
Further analysis of the Trump administration’s decision and its implications for TPS holders will be provided as the situation continues to develop. In the meantime, those affected are advised to seek guidance from qualified immigration attorneys or accredited representatives.
This article has been informed by reporting from Houston Public Media.
