TPS Extended for Lebanon and El Salvador — What Holders Need to Know Before the Deadlines
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June 19, 2026 | Breaking News | United States
The Department of Homeland Security has extended Temporary Protected Status for nationals of Lebanon and El Salvador, keeping protection in place for tens of thousands of people who would otherwise face loss of legal status and work authorization in the coming months. Both extensions came through different mechanisms — and both carry approaching deadlines that TPS holders need to track closely.
Lebanon: Automatic Six-Month Extension Through November 27, 2026
DHS automatically extended TPS for Lebanon for six months, from May 28, 2026, through November 27, 2026, after the Secretary of Homeland Security was unable to make a determination on Lebanon's TPS designation by the March 28, 2026 statutory deadline.
Rapidly unfolding events in Lebanon in March 2026 impacted the Department's ability to conduct a thorough review of prevailing country conditions for the Secretary's timely consideration and determination.
Under the TPS statute, when the Secretary fails to make a designation decision at least 60 days before a country's TPS expiration, the designation is automatically extended for six months by operation of law — no action required by TPS holders.
What Lebanon TPS holders need to know:
TPS protection is extended automatically — no application or re-registration is required for the current extension period
Employment Authorization Documents with a Category Code of A12 or C19 and a Card Expires date of May 27, 2026, are automatically extended through November 27, 2026
Employers should accept these EADs as valid through November 27, 2026 for I-9 purposes
No later than sixty days prior to November 27, 2026, the Secretary intends to review the conditions in Lebanon and decide whether extension or termination is warranted — meaning a decision on Lebanon's future TPS status is expected by late September 2026
The critical date to watch: Late September 2026. If DHS does not make a determination by that point, another automatic extension would trigger. If DHS terminates Lebanon's TPS designation, holders would have a wind-down period before status and work authorization expire. Monitoring the Federal Register and USCIS alerts in September is essential for Lebanon TPS holders.
El Salvador: TPS Valid Through September 9, 2026
El Salvador's TPS designation remains in effect through September 9, 2026. The Biden administration extended El Salvador's TPS in January 2025 for 18 months — that extension is the basis for current protection.
On April 28, 2026, USCIS updated its TPS El Salvador webpage to indicate that Salvadorans with TPS that expired on March 9, 2025, have an automatic employment authorization extension through July 22, 2026.
Immigration attorneys are advising Salvadoran TPS holders and their employers to save or print the USCIS TPS El Salvador webpage as documentation of work authorization for I-9 and other verification purposes.
What El Salvador TPS holders need to know:
Current TPS protection runs through September 9, 2026
The Trump administration has not announced a new extension — the September 9 deadline is real and approaching
TPS for El Salvador has been the subject of ongoing litigation since the first Trump administration attempted termination. The Supreme Court heard arguments about TPS in April 2026 and will likely make a decision by early July 2026 — a ruling that could affect the legal foundation for TPS protections broadly
Salvadoran TPS holders should consult an immigration attorney now about options in the event TPS is not extended beyond September 9
The Supreme Court TPS Case — The Wildcard
The most significant development affecting TPS holders across all nationalities is one that has received less attention than the individual country extensions: the Supreme Court heard arguments about TPS in April 2026 and will likely make a decision by early July 2026.
The case concerns the legal foundation for TPS protections and the scope of executive authority to terminate them. A ruling against TPS holders could make it easier for the administration to terminate designations for multiple countries simultaneously, with limited judicial recourse. A ruling in favor of TPS holders would strengthen the legal basis for challenging future terminations.
The July 2026 decision will be one of the most consequential immigration rulings of the year. TPS holders from all designated countries — including Haiti, Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and others — should be monitoring this case closely.
Which Countries Currently Have TPS
As of June 2026, TPS designations are in effect for nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The Trump administration has announced terminations for several of these countries. Most terminations are currently blocked by court orders. However, the legal situation for each country is different, and the status of individual designations can change rapidly.
Burma (Myanmar): TPS for Burma is valid for now. The U.S. government had announced that TPS for Burma would end on January 26, 2026, but a court stopped the government from ending TPS while litigation proceeds.
For Haiti: TPS termination was announced, with status set to end February 3, 2026, but a federal court blocked the termination on February 2, 2026. Litigation is ongoing.
What TPS Holders Should Do Now
If you have Lebanon TPS: Your status and EADs are automatically extended through November 27, 2026. No action is required for the current period. Begin monitoring Federal Register notices in September for news about Lebanon's next designation decision.
If you have El Salvador TPS: September 9, 2026 is approaching. Consult an immigration attorney now — not in August — to assess your options if TPS is not extended beyond that date. Options may include adjustment of status through a family or employer petition, cancellation of removal eligibility, or other legal pathways depending on your specific situation.
If you have TPS from any other country: Check uscis.gov/tps for the current status of your country's designation. Many are under active litigation. Do not rely on news summaries alone — the USCIS TPS page is updated when Federal Register notices are published.
For all TPS holders: Keep copies of all TPS documentation — your EAD, approval notices, and any auto-extension notices. The USCIS webpage printout (as advised for El Salvador) is a legitimate form of work authorization documentation for I-9 purposes when your physical card shows an expired date but an auto-extension is in effect.
Key Dates at a Glance
Country | Current TPS expiration | Next decision deadline |
Lebanon | November 27, 2026 | Late September 2026 |
El Salvador | September 9, 2026 | No extension announced |
Burma (Myanmar) | Extended by court order | Litigation pending |
Haiti | Extended by court order | Litigation pending |
Ukraine | Active | Varies |
Venezuela | Under litigation | Varies |
The Immigrants will continue to monitor TPS developments, including the Supreme Court ruling expected by early July 2026. Bookmark immigrants.live for updates.
About The Immigrants
The Immigrants is an independent publication covering the policies, systems, and decisions that shape the lives of people who move across borders.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TPS designations change frequently. Verify current status at uscis.gov/tps or consult a licensed immigration attorney before making decisions based on the information above.
Sources: USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Register, ASAP Together, Iandoli Desai & Cronin P.C., National Immigration Forum, American Immigration Council, Congress.gov.
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