Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday that it will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians living in the United States, declaring that conditions in Syria no longer prevent their return.
Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Syrians covered under the program will have 60 days to depart voluntarily or face possible detention and deportation.
“Syria has been a hotbed of terrorism and extremism for nearly two decades, and it is contrary to our national interest to allow Syrians to remain in our country,” McLaughlin said, according to Reuters.
The decision affects more than 6,000 Syrians who have held TPS since it was first granted in 2012. Another 1,000 applications remain pending, DHS confirmed.
An official Federal Register notice outlined incentives for voluntary departure, including free plane tickets and up to $1,000 in financial assistance. The agency added that Syrians who comply may be eligible for future legal migration pathways.
Related: Syria’s FM in Washington: Talks on Sanctions, Reconstruction, and a Deal with Israel
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work in the U.S. temporarily. It is reviewed on a rolling basis depending on conditions in the designated country.
Syrian state media reported that Washington’s decision comes with assurances of “future opportunities for legal migration” for those who leave within the timeframe, though this claim has not been independently verified.
Since Thursday, Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has been in Washington for talks with senior officials from the State and Treasury Departments, as well as members of Congress. His agenda includes lobbying for the removal of U.S. sanctions, particularly the “Caesar Act,” which Damascus says obstructs investment and reconstruction.
