Sunday July 12, 2026
Washington (HOL) — US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated guidance on work authorization for citizens of countries under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) whose cases remain tied to litigation over planned terminations of the program.
The agency set provisional work authorization dates for several countries, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Syria, Myanmar, South Sudan and Yemen, through July 17, 2026. Haiti was listed separately through July 24, 2026.
However, on March 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order staying the termination of TPS for Somalia in the case African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al.
As a result, Somali TPS beneficiaries will retain their status and employment authorization while the court order remains in effect.
USCIS said Employment Authorization Documents EADs, with category codes A12 or C19 remain valid and are extended under the court order.
The agency said the extension is limited relief pending further developments in the litigation, including action by the District Court following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 25, 2026, decision in Mullin v. Doe.
USCIS said agencies using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, known as SAVE, will be able to verify whether an individual has approved TPS that has not been withdrawn.
For Somali TPS beneficiaries, SAVE manual responses will indicate “Temporary Protected Status — Employment Authorized — Temp Emp Auth,” with employment authorization listed through July 17, 2026.
DHS comments in the system will state that TPS and employment authorization have been extended by court order and direct agencies to check the USCIS TPS Somalia webpage for updates.
USCIS said the status of Somali TPS holders and their employment authorization remains dependent on developments in the active litigation.
The agency advised user agencies to regularly check the USCIS TPS Somalia webpage for updates and said they may subscribe to SAVE updates through Granicus Communications.
