Fourth Circuit Court Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration From Ending TPS for 11,000 Afghans With Emergency Stay Until July 21

A U.S. appeals court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 11,000 to 12,000 Afghan nationals residing in the United States. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay that prevents the Department of Homeland Security from terminating the protected status, allowing more time for legal arguments to be submitted. This decision halts the planned revocation of deportation protections and work permits for thousands of Afghans, many of whom were relocated to the U.S. after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The court's temporary ruling underscores ongoing legal challenges to the administration's claim that conditions in Afghanistan have improved sufficiently to end TPS. Lawmakers and advocates have criticized the administration's move, highlighting the risks faced by Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. military forces.