The secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, said recently the department decided to categorize Afghanistan as eligible for 18 months of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
This status will only be granted to those who are currently residing in the United States as of March 15 and fulfill all other conditions, such as passing security and background checks.
“This TPS designation will help to protect Afghan nationals who have already been living in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions,” Mayorkas stated in the press release.
Mayorkas also stated that TPS would offer extra safeguards and guarantees to "trusted partners and vulnerable Afghans" who have assisted the U.S.' efforts in Afghanistan during the previous 20 years.
According to the press release, Mayorkas awarded TPS to Afghanistan because of the current armed conflict along with temporary circumstances that prohibit the country's citizens from returning safely.
Afghan nationals who arrived as part of Operation Allies Welcome, an evacuation operation that permitted individuals to enter the U.s. on a case by case basis, may also be eligible for TPS
Any Afghan national attempting to enter the U.S. after March 15, 2022 will be ineligible for TPS.
