USCIS Terminates TPS for Yemen, Effective May 4, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security has officially announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen, with the designation set to end on May 4, 2026. This decision, released through a USCIS notice, means that Yemeni nationals currently protected under TPS will lose their immigration status and associated work authorization unless they secure an alternative valid immigration status before that date. For employers, the primary compliance concern centers on Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) tied to Yemen TPS. After May 4, 2026, these documents will no longer be valid, and employers who fail to reverify affected workers' employment authorization may face I-9 compliance violations. USCIS guidance emphasizes that employers should focus on tracking work authorization expiration dates rather than employees' nationalities. Employers are required to complete reverification in Section 3 of Form I-9 no later than the expiration date shown on the employee's work authorization document. For those enrolled in E-Verify, regular review of the Status Change Report is strongly recommended, as it flags employees whose authorization status may have changed due to DHS policy updates. The practical guidance from immigration attorneys is to strengthen overall I-9 tracking and reverification systems across the workforce. Employers should audit current EAD expiration dates, identify any documents tied to TPS-based authorization, and establish processes to ensure timely reverification well ahead of the May 2026 deadline. While TPS terminations do not directly affect EB-3 applicants, employers sponsoring workers through employment-based green card processes should be aware that affected employees may seek to transition into other work-authorized statuses, potentially including employer-sponsored immigrant visa petitions.