US Ends Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan

The United States has announced it will terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for South Sudan, which allowed South Sudanese nationals to remain in the US legally while escaping armed conflict. The change will take effect on January 5, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that, after consulting with other agencies, conditions in South Sudan no longer meet TPS requirements. Nationals who report their departure through the US Customs and Border Protection app could receive a plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential pathways for future legal immigration.

South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, has faced recurring political violence, despite a peace deal signed in 2018 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President Riek Machar. The deal is reportedly unraveling following Machar’s arrest earlier this year.

The TPS program had provided legal status in the US in 18-month increments, but the decision follows a broader US trend of ending temporary protections, including for Venezuelans and Haitians under previous administrations. South Sudan remains heavily dependent on foreign aid, which has been reduced in recent years, adding further strain to the country’s already fragile infrastructure.

Source:Newstimehub