TPS Status for Ukraine, Sudan, and Lebanon in Q4 2026

Thousands of immigration lawyer clients with Temporary Protected Status are facing one of the most uncertain periods in the program’s history. The fourth quarter of 2026 has brought a wave of expired deadlines, missing Federal Register notices, and vague government guidance that leaves TPS holders from Ukraine, Sudan, and Lebanon unsure of where they stand, whether they can work, and what comes next. If you hold TPS status from any of these three countries, now is the time to talk to an immigration attorney who can review your case and help you prepare for what lies ahead. Call Brooks Law Firm today at (617) 245-8090 for a free consultation.

The situation is especially complicated because each country’s designation is in a different posture. Ukraine and Sudan both hit an October 19, 2026 deadline with no formal decision from the Department of Homeland Security. Lebanon’s TPS runs through November 27, 2026, but its own review deadline has already passed with no published decision. Below, we break down what is happening with each country and what TPS holders in Massachusetts should do right now.

What Is TPS?

Temporary Protected Status is a federal immigration benefit that allows nationals of certain designated countries to live and work in the United States when conditions in their home country, such as armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances, make it unsafe to return. TPS does not lead directly to a green card or permanent residency, but it does provide protection from deportation and authorization to work for as long as the designation remains in effect.

The Secretary of Homeland Security designates countries for TPS and periodically reviews whether conditions warrant extending, redesignating, or terminating the designation. To qualify, an individual must have been continuously physically present in the United States since the date specified in the Federal Register notice for their country’s designation, must not have certain disqualifying criminal convictions, and must register (or re-register) during the required period.

What Countries Qualify for TPS?

As of late October 2026, the TPS landscape has narrowed significantly. The Trump administration has moved to terminate designations for many countries over the past two years, and federal court litigation has shaped the outcomes for several others. The countries whose TPS designations are still considered active or continuing include:

• El Salvador (designation period ended September 9, 2026; USCIS guidance states protection and work authorization continue pending a formal announcement)
• Ukraine (designation period ended October 19, 2026; USCIS states protection continues pending further announcement)
• Sudan (designation period ended October 19, 2026; same USCIS guidance as Ukraine)
• Lebanon (extended through November 27, 2026)

Countries whose TPS designations have been formally terminated include Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Afghanistan, Burma, and South Sudan, among others. Some of those terminations are the subject of ongoing federal court challenges. The USCIS TPS page maintains the most current list of designated countries and their status.

TPS Ukraine

Ukraine was first designated for TPS on April 19, 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The designation was redesignated on October 20, 2023, and most recently extended in January 2025 for an 18-month period running from April 20, 2025, through October 19, 2026.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), DHS is required to review a TPS designation at least 60 days before it expires and make a determination on whether to extend, redesignate, or terminate it. For Ukraine, that 60-day deadline fell on August 20, 2026. DHS did not publish any determination in the Federal Register by that date.

Several immigration law organizations and practitioners argue that this failure triggered an automatic six-month extension under INA § 244(b)(3)(C), which would keep TPS for Ukraine in effect through April 19, 2027. However, this interpretation is disputed. In a 2025 ruling involving TPS for Afghanistan and Cameroon, a federal court accepted the government’s argument that the 60-day statutory deadline applies to the Secretary’s internal determination, not necessarily to the publication of a Federal Register notice. If that reasoning applies here, DHS could argue that a timely determination was made even without a published notice. As of late October 2026, USCIS has not formally acknowledged the statutory automatic extension for Ukraine.

What USCIS has said is this: on October 19, 2026, the agency updated its Ukraine TPS page with a statement that an announcement “will be made at the appropriate time” and that Ukrainian nationals with TPS “retain protection including work authorization” in the meantime. The USCIS page still lists October 19, 2026 as the designation’s formal end date, but no termination has been published and no Federal Register notice has ended the designation.

For Ukrainian TPS holders, the practical effect is that their status should be treated as continuing. But the absence of a clear published extension, and the lack of a new EAD expiration date, creates real confusion for both beneficiaries and their employers handling Form I-9 verification.

Related article: Green Card Holder Travel Restrictions in 2026: What You Can (and Can’t) Do

TPS Sudan

Sudan’s TPS trajectory closely mirrors Ukraine’s. Sudan received a new 18-month TPS designation on April 19, 2022. In August 2023, following the outbreak of armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, DHS extended and redesignated Sudan for TPS for another 18 months, through April 19, 2025. The designation was most recently extended in January 2025, running through October 19, 2026, the same end date as Ukraine.

DHS faced the same 60-day review deadline and similarly did not publish a formal decision before the August 20, 2026 cutoff. On October 19, 2026, USCIS posted language on its Sudan TPS page identical to the Ukraine statement: “An announcement on Sudan’s TPS will be made at the appropriate time. Until such announcement is made, Sudanese individuals present in the U.S. under TPS retain protection including work authorization.”

The same legal uncertainty applies. Practitioners who argue the automatic extension was triggered would put Sudan’s TPS through April 19, 2027, but the government has not confirmed this, and the same legal dispute about the scope of the 60-day deadline is in play. No termination has been published.

Approximately 1,790 individuals hold TPS under Sudan’s current designation, a much smaller population than Ukraine’s roughly 101,000 beneficiaries. But the legal questions and the day-to-day uncertainty are the same.

Related article: USCIS Changes I-485: What That Means for Green Card Applicants

TPS Lebanon

Lebanon’s situation is distinct. DHS designated Lebanon for TPS effective November 27, 2024, based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions in the country. That initial designation was set to expire on May 27, 2026.

DHS did not issue a timely determination before Lebanon’s 60-day statutory deadline of March 28, 2026, and the designation was automatically extended for six months through November 27, 2026. DHS published a Federal Register notice on May 29, 2026, confirming the automatic extension. The notice cited “rapidly unfolding events in Lebanon in March 2026” that prevented the Department from completing a thorough review of country conditions.

Lebanon’s TPS designation remains active through November 27, 2026, and EADs issued under the Lebanon TPS designation have been automatically extended through the same date. The next statutory review deadline, approximately 60 days before the November 27 expiration, was around September 28, 2026. As of late October, there is no published decision on whether Lebanon’s TPS will be extended, redesignated, or terminated.

If DHS again misses the deadline without publishing a determination, the same automatic six-month extension mechanism could apply. But as the dispute over Ukraine and Sudan illustrates, TPS holders should not assume an automatic extension will be recognized without legal guidance.

Related article: Green Card Holders and ICE Detentions: What You Need to Know

Why This Matters for TPS Holders in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to immigrant communities from all three of these countries. The uncertainty around TPS renewals affects individuals and families who have built lives here, many of whom are working, raising children, and contributing to their communities.

The practical concerns are immediate:

• Work authorization. USCIS guidance says TPS holders from Ukraine and Sudan retain work authorization, but no new EAD expiration date has been issued. Employers may be unsure how to handle Form I-9 reverification, and some TPS holders may face challenges at work as a result.
• Travel. TPS holders who travel abroad must obtain advance parole before departing. Traveling without it, or during a period of ambiguous designation status, carries serious risks, including the potential loss of TPS upon return.
• Future planning. Without a clear extension or termination, TPS holders cannot plan ahead. They may not know whether to file new applications, prepare for re-registration, or begin exploring other immigration options.

Related article: Is ICE Detaining People During Their Green Card Interviews?

Immigration Lawyer for TPS

Given the current uncertainty, TPS holders from Ukraine, Sudan, and Lebanon should take several steps now rather than waiting for a government announcement that may not come soon.

Review your documents. Make sure your TPS registration, EAD, and any USCIS receipt notices are organized and current. If your EAD lists an October 19 or November 27, 2026 expiration date, keep a printed copy of the USCIS alert confirming continued work authorization alongside it.

Consult with an immigration attorney. An experienced immigration attorney can evaluate whether you may be eligible for other forms of relief, such as asylum, adjustment of status, or other humanitarian protections. TPS is temporary by design, and the current political environment has made its future less predictable than ever. Exploring other pathways now could make a significant difference in your long-term stability.

Monitor USCIS updates. Check the USCIS TPS page regularly for new Federal Register notices or alerts about your country’s designation. Employers should also monitor the USCIS Form I-9 Related News page for updated verification guidance.

Do not let your registration lapse. If a re-registration period opens, file on time. Missing a re-registration deadline can result in losing TPS benefits entirely, regardless of whether the underlying designation continues.

Related article: American Citizenship Test Questions and Changes in 2026

What to Do Next

The coming weeks may bring formal announcements from DHS on all three countries, or they may not. What we know now is that TPS for Ukraine, Sudan, and Lebanon has not been terminated, and USCIS has told holders from each country to continue treating their protection and work authorization as active. But “pending further announcement” is not a foundation anyone can build a future on.

If you or someone you know holds TPS from Ukraine, Sudan, or Lebanon, reach out to Brooks Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation. We will give you an honest look at where you stand, what options may be available beyond TPS, and what steps to take to protect yourself and your family during this period of uncertainty. Call (617) 245-8090 now.