US Immigration Rules Change for Yemeni People

New changes in US immigration rules are making things unsure for people from Yemen. Some important protections might end, and this could mean they have to leave the country. We explain what these changes mean.
By Newsroom | United States, Yemen |

Uncertainty Looms for Yemeni Nationals in the United States

The status of Yemeni nationals residing in the United States is currently undergoing significant re-evaluation, as immigration protection programs face legal challenges and policy shifts. These developments create a climate of uncertainty regarding their ability to remain in the country and the potential for forced return to Yemen. The situation involves complex legal rulings, administrative decisions, and ongoing political debates surrounding immigration and national security.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS Strips Deportation Protections From Yemenis, Orders Them To Return Home - 1

Background and Shifting Protections

For a considerable period, many Yemeni nationals have been afforded protection under various U.S. immigration programs, primarily Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This status, granted when conditions in a home country are deemed too unsafe for return, allows individuals to live and work legally in the United States.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS Strips Deportation Protections From Yemenis, Orders Them To Return Home - 2

  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen:

  • In July 2024, Secretary Mayorkas announced an extension and redesignation of Yemen for TPS, citing "ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions" that continue to warrant the designation. This decision allowed eligible Yemeni nationals residing in the U.S. since July 2, 2024, to apply for TPS and employment authorization. (Article 5)

  • This followed previous extensions, including one in July 2021 under the Biden administration, which protected over 2,000 Yemenis and their families, stating the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis made return unsafe. (Article 6)

  • Broader Immigration Program Changes:

  • In May 2025, a divided Supreme Court allowed the Trump Administration to end a Biden-era program that offered humanitarian parole protections to migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This decision, impacting hundreds of thousands, granted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem the discretion to revoke such programs while legal challenges proceed. (Article 2)

  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) framed this as a victory for removing "criminal illegal aliens" and asserting "undisputed authority." (Article 3)

Recent court actions have introduced further complexities, with some rulings highlighting concerns about government conduct in deportation processes.

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EXCLUSIVE: DHS Strips Deportation Protections From Yemenis, Orders Them To Return Home - 3

  • Judge Orders Return of Families to the U.S.:

  • In February 2026, a U.S. District Judge ordered the return of three families to the United States, finding that immigration agents had used "lies" to deport them. The judge ruled that these removals were unlawful and that the families should have remained in the U.S. with access to benefits. (Article 1)

  • In one instance, a mother was reportedly told that if she did not "self-deport," her children would be placed in foster care or adoption. This family, including a U.S. citizen child, was detained and then flown to Honduras. (Article 1)

  • The government had previously argued in court that it lacked jurisdiction to order the families' return, while also claiming some families had departed "voluntarily," even those with valid parole. (Article 1)

  • Third-Country Removals:

  • A Supreme Court ruling in July 2025 permitted DHS to deport individuals to third countries—places they are not from—without providing them a meaningful opportunity to contest the removal while legal cases on the practice continue. (Article 4)

  • These "third-country removals" occur when a deporting country will not accept an individual back. DHS's policy in such cases, sometimes based on assurances that individuals will not face torture, has drawn criticism from advocates. (Article 4)

DHS Actions and Statements

The Department of Homeland Security has issued statements reflecting its stance on immigration enforcement and legal victories.

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  • DHS on Third-Country Deportations:

  • In June 2025, DHS announced a legal victory allowing the deportation of "criminal illegal aliens" to third countries that agree to accept them, asserting this was a move to exercise "undisputed authority" and address a "national security nightmare." (Article 3)

  • This statement followed a Supreme Court order that stayed a district court's decision, pending an appeal, in a case involving the removal of individuals to third countries. (Article 3)

  • DHS on Migrant Parole Programs:

  • Following the Supreme Court's decision on migrant parole programs in May 2025, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the administration allowed "hundreds of thousands of poorly vetted aliens" to enter the U.S. and compete for jobs, thereby "undercutting American workers." (Article 2)

Expert Perspectives and Advocacy

Immigration advocacy groups have raised concerns about the implications of these policy shifts and legal rulings.

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  • Concerns Over Due Process:

  • Organizations like the Tahirih Justice Center have highlighted that DHS may offer limited notice or opportunity for individuals to raise fears of torture in third countries, even when relying on "blanket assurances" from those countries. (Article 4)

  • The judge in the case involving the three families noted that "each of the removals was unlawful," implying a violation of established rights or agreements. (Article 1)

  • Impact of Policy Changes:

  • The Supreme Court's ruling allowing the end of the Biden-era parole program means "hundreds of thousands of migrants could be at risk of deportation." (Article 2)

  • The broader trend suggests a move toward more restrictive immigration policies, potentially impacting groups like Yemenis who previously relied on programs like TPS. (Article 2, Article 5, Article 6)

The situation for Yemeni nationals in the U.S. is characterized by a dynamic interplay of administrative policy, judicial review, and evolving legal interpretations of immigration law. While TPS has provided a measure of protection, recent court decisions and broader policy shifts, including the termination of other humanitarian parole programs and the allowance of third-country deportations, indicate a tightening immigration environment. The specific judicial findings in cases like the one involving the three families returning to the U.S. suggest that procedural irregularities and alleged misrepresentations by agents remain points of contention. The DHS's stated intent to increase deportations and utilize third-country removals, coupled with the Supreme Court's decisions on various immigration programs, points towards ongoing challenges for immigrant populations seeking to remain in the United States.

Key Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is happening with immigration rules for Yemeni people in the US?
Some immigration protections that helped Yemeni people stay in the US are changing. This makes it unclear if they can remain in the country.
Q: What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
TPS is a program that lets people from certain countries stay in the US if their home country is unsafe. Yemen has had this protection extended.
Q: Are all protections ending?
Some programs that helped migrants are ending, and courts are making new decisions. This creates a complex situation for many, including Yemenis.
Q: Can people be sent back to countries they are not from?
Yes, a court ruling allows people to be sent to a third country if their home country will not take them back. This is a new change.