As TPS designations expire, Catholic bishops remain concerned about safety in affected countries

The Trump administration has moved to end temporary protected status (TPS) for people from 13 countries since 2025, and Catholic bishops warn that people may still face unsafe conditions if forced to return.

TPS is an immigration status granted to eligible foreign nationals from designated countries that are deemed unsafe to return to due to ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

Multiple nations will lose their designations in coming months. TPS for El Salvadoran nationals will expire Sept. 9. Designations for Sudan and Ukraine are set to expire Oct. 19, while Lebanon’s will end Nov. 27. TPS for Haiti ended July 27.

Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas, chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, said bishops are focused on Haitian nationals “because thatʼs the community most affected right now, and now lives in a fear because they could be deported any time.”

The situation there “is pretty dire,” he told EWTN News. “The government is ending the temporary protected status and wants to return people to Haiti,” but “in our judgment it’s not safe, and thereʼs a moral question of…