US Grants Temporary Deportation Reprieve to 1,800 Sudanese Immigrants
The United States has temporarily maintained deportation protections for about 1,800 Sudanese nationals after their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was due to expire on October 19, 2026.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Sudanese nationals covered by the programme would “retain protection” while the government considers its next steps. The department did not specify how long the reprieve would last or when a final decision would be announced.
The measure allows eligible Sudanese immigrants to remain in the United States without immediate risk of deportation. TPS generally also permits beneficiaries to work legally, although DHS has not clarified whether all affected Sudanese nationals can continue using their existing work authorisations.
The decision comes as Sudan continues to face a devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023 and has triggered mass displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.
The TPS programme was established by the US Congress to protect eligible nationals of countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions that make returning unsafe. It offers temporary protection from deportation but does not provide a direct route to permanent residency.
The latest decision offers temporary relief to Sudanese nationals in the United States, but uncertainty remains over the duration of their protection and the administration’s eventual decision on the programme.
