H.R. 6946

119 HR 6946 IH: Temporary Protected Status Reform Act of 2026.
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-01-06
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 6946  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 6, 2026   Mr. Hunt  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To amend section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to terminate Temporary Protected Status designations for certain countries.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Temporary Protected Status Reform Act of 2026.
2.
Congressional findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Statutory purpose of temporary protected status
Temporary Protected Status (TPS), as established under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, was intended by Congress to provide temporary and humanitarian relief to nationals of designated countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.
(2)
Duration and repeated extensions
Since its enactment, TPS designations for certain countries have been repeatedly extended for periods spanning multiple decades, resulting in populations residing in the United States for prolonged durations under a status intended by statute to be temporary in nature.
(3)
Executive branch discretion
The designation, extension, and termination of TPS have been exercised primarily through executive branch discretion, which has led to differing interpretations across administrations regarding the scope, duration, and application of such authority.
(4)
Impact on the immigration system
Long-term TPS designations raise policy questions concerning the interaction between temporary humanitarian protections and the broader immigration system, including issues of lawful presence, work authorization, and eligibility for other forms of immigration relief.
(5)
Congressional oversight and legislative authority
Article I of the Constitution vests Congress with the authority to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and Congress has a continuing responsibility to review, clarify, and amend immigration statutes to ensure they reflect legislative intent.
3.
Termination of temporary protected status for certain countries
(a)
In general
Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(o)
Termination of designations for certain countries
(1)
Termination
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other provision of law, the designation of a foreign state under this section shall terminate with respect to nationals of—
(A)
Somalia;
(B)
Sudan;
(C)
Syria;
(D)
Yemen; and
(E)
Lebanon.
(2)
Prohibition on redesignation
The Secretary of Homeland Security may not designate or redesignate any country listed in paragraph (1) under this section on or after the date of enactment of this subsection, except pursuant to a statute enacted after such date that expressly authorizes such designation.
 .
(b)
Effective date
The termination of Temporary Protected Status under subsection (o) of section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
4.
Orderly wind-down and departure requirements
(a)
Cessation of lawful presence and required departure
(1)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), any individual whose Temporary Protected Status is terminated pursuant to section 244(o) of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall—
(A)
depart the United States not later than the effective date described in section 2(b); and
(B)
cease to be considered lawfully present in the United States on and after such date.
(2)
Exception for independent lawful status
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an individual who, on or before the termination date, has been granted—
(A)
lawful permanent resident status;
(B)
nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
(C)
asylum under section 208 of such Act; or
(D)
any other lawful immigration status independent of Temporary Protected Status.
(3)
No continuing protection from removal
An individual described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act if such individual remains in the United States after the termination date without lawful status.
(b)
Limited stay of removal prior to termination date
During the 180-day period preceding the termination date described in section 2(b), the Secretary of Homeland Security may not remove an individual solely on the basis of the termination of Temporary Protected Status.
(c)
Employment authorization
Any employment authorization document issued pursuant to Temporary Protected Status for an individual described in section 2(a) shall expire on the termination date specified in section 2(b) and may not be extended thereafter.
5.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to—
(1)
require the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant any form of discretionary relief from removal;
(2)
limit the authority of the Secretary to deny any application for immigration benefits; or
(3)
confer any right to remain in the United States beyond the termination date described in section 2(b).