Thousands of Cameroonians living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are now grappling with an uncertain future. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that TPS for nationals of Cameroon will officially end in June, a move that has sparked concern, confusion, and anxiety across affected communities.
The directive came as part of a sweeping change in immigration policy under President Donald Trump’s administration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing a review of current conditions, declared that Cameroon no longer meets the requirements for TPS protection. The decision was confirmed by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who said the government determined that the situation in Cameroon had improved enough to warrant the end of protections.
But for the nearly 8,000 Cameroonians who had found safety and temporary stability in the U.S., the reality is far more complicated.
Many Cameroonians under TPS originally fled violent conflict, political persecution, and systemic human rights violations. While official reports may point to improved conditions, several advocacy groups and Cameroonian nationals argue that the country is far from stable, especially in regions still affected by armed clashes and insecurity.
“For us, going back is not an option,” said Emmanuel (not his real name), a 36-year-old father of two who fled Cameroon in 2021 and has since been working legally in Maryland under TPS. “People assume things have calmed down, but my village is still under military surveillance. My brother was detained last year without charges. How can I take my family back into that?”
TPS allows nationals from designated countries to remain in the U.S. temporarily if returning home would pose a danger due to armed conflict or natural disaster. The protection comes with work authorization and immunity from deportation, typically renewed every 18 months.
For many Cameroonians, TPS provided a lifeline. They built lives, held jobs, paid taxes, and sent their children to school. Now, with just weeks left before protections expire, families are scrambling to understand their options.
Community legal aid centers report being overwhelmed by requests for help. Some TPS holders are exploring asylum applications, while others, especially those with U.S.-born children, are desperately searching for legal pathways to stay.
Several human rights organizations have criticized the decision as hasty and potentially dangerous. They argue that the review process ignored recent reports of ongoing abuses in Cameroon, particularly in the Anglophone regions, where clashes between separatists and the military have displaced thousands.
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“This isn’t just a paperwork issue. This is about people’s lives,” said Marie Kouam, a Cameroonian-American immigration lawyer based in Atlanta. “TPS was granted because of clear, credible threats. Those threats have not disappeared. Ending this protection now sends people back into harm’s way.”
The move to end TPS for Cameroonians is part of a broader crackdown under the Trump administration’s new term. In recent months, protections have also been rolled back for nationals of Afghanistan, Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti. The administration has also suspended key humanitarian entry programs and ramped up deportations, drawing sharp criticism from immigration rights groups.
Still, officials like Secretary Noem argue that TPS was never intended to provide permanent residence and that the U.S. must refocus its immigration policies on “order and security.”
As the June deadline approaches, Cameroonian communities across the U.S. are grappling with both logistical and emotional fallout. Parents are unsure if their children will continue in American schools. Workers fear losing their jobs. And others, like Emmanuel, worry about the future for their families.
“America gave us a second chance,” he said. “Now it feels like the door is being slammed shut.”
For now, the fate of thousands rests in the hands of legal systems, policymakers, and advocates racing against time to find solutions before deportation orders begin to roll out. And for Cameroonians facing that ticking clock, the fear is no longer about starting over—it’s about not being sent back to the danger they once fled.
