KABUL – A U.S. federal appeals court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghanistan nationals and Cameroonians living in the United States, despite an ongoing legal challenge.
According to CBS News, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, in a ruling on Monday, said that while the lawsuit filed by immigration advocacy group CASA has a “plausible case,” there is “insufficient evidence” to block the phase-out of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) during litigation.
The court instructed a lower court to review the case quickly.
The decision affects about 11,700 Afghanistan nationals and 5,200 Cameroonians currently enrolled in TPS. Roughly 3,600 Afghanistan nationals and 200 Cameroonians with permanent residency will not be impacted.
For others, protections will end soon, immediately for Afghanistan nationals and by August 4 for Cameroonians, leaving many at risk of deportation unless they obtain asylum or another legal status.
AfghanEvac, a group helping displaced Afghanistan nationals, condemned the ruling.
“Lives will be upended. Families will be separated. Allies will be detained, deported, or forced into hiding—while their legal rights remain unsettled,” said AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver.
The Trump administration argues that TPS was meant to be temporary and claims conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon have improved. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in May that the policy “returns TPS to its original temporary intent.”
However, the State Department continues to issue a “Do Not Travel” advisory for Afghanistan due to terrorism, kidnappings, and wrongful detentions. Warnings also remain in place for parts of Cameroon.
CASA insists both nations remain unsafe and accuses the administration of procedural violations and discrimination.
The case highlights broader efforts by the Trump administration to roll back TPS protections for migrants from multiple countries, including Venezuela and Haiti.
