Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a form of humanitarian relief given to citizens of certain designated countries who are living in the US.  Following natural disaster or civil unrest in a particular country, the US government may declare that all eligible citizens of that country who were already present in the US on the date of designation may be protected from deportation.  In do doing, the US acknowledges that the country’s foreign nationals may not be able to return safely, or that their government may not be able to accept them.

Recent examples of TPS designations include Haiti (following the 2010 earthquake) and Syria (due to on-going armed conflict).  Countries are designated for TPS for limited periods of time, during which eligible citizens of those countries may lawfully reside and work in the US.