On September 19, 2025, President Trump’s administration announced it would revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 6,000 Syrian immigrants living and working in the United States. The decision, which comes amid a volatile period in Syria’s recent history, has ignited fierce debate and concern among immigrant advocates, national security experts, and the Syrian-American community. Syrians under TPS now face a 60-day deadline to leave the country or risk arrest and forced deportation, a move that many see as both abrupt and fraught with peril.
For years, Syrians fleeing civil war and the brutal dictatorship of Bashar Al Assad found refuge in the U.S. under TPS—a designation intended for nationals of countries wracked by armed conflict or natural disaster. According to The New York Times, these protections were first extended under President Obama, as Syria descended into a devastating civil war that shattered families and scattered millions across the globe. Now, less than a year after rebels overthrew Assad’s decades-long rule in December 2024, the Trump administration is signaling that these Syrians must return to a homeland the United Nations still describes as “fragile” and “rife with sectarian tension.”
“Member States warned of growing risks posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaeda, who continue to view the country as a strategic base for external operations,” the United Nations reported in August 2025, just weeks before the Trump administration’s announcement. The U.N. further noted that “the interim Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), faced multiple security challenges, including asserting control over territory and diverse armed factions/fighters, as well as controlling foreign terrorist fighters, and countering ISIL resurgence.” In other words, Syria remains a country in turmoil, with no clear path to stability or safety for returning nationals.
Despite these warnings, the Trump administration’s position is clear: TPS is, by definition, temporary. Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, defended the decision, telling reporters, “This is what restoring sanity to America’s immigration system looks like. Conditions in Syria no longer prevent their nationals from returning home. Syria has been a hotbed of terrorism and extremism for nearly two decades, and it is contrary to our national interest to allow Syrians to remain in our country. T.P.S. is meant to be temporary.”
For many Syrians, the prospect of returning now is nothing short of terrifying. The United Nations’ assessment, cited by The New York Times, described Syria in August as still “in a volatile and precarious phase,” with the interim government struggling to assert authority amid factional violence and the resurgence of terrorist groups. Amanda Baran, former head of Citizenship and Immigration policy, voiced the concerns of many in the immigrant advocacy community, stating, “Conditions in Syria remain dangerous and unstable, clearly warranting an extension under the law. This administration’s disregard for the expertise of human rights experts is having real, dire consequences on the lives of everyday people as demonstrated by this reckless decision.” She added, “This is gutting for the thousands of Syrians here with T.P.S. and the communities in which they live.”
The Trump administration’s move is part of a broader crackdown on immigration protections, with similar actions taken against nationals from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cameroon. According to The Washington Post, the administration has also sought to end TPS protections for Venezuelans and imposed new hurdles for Palestinians seeking asylum. These steps come alongside a suite of other restrictive measures, such as the introduction of a $100,000 yearly fee on H-1B visas, aimed at curbing both legal and humanitarian migration.
For Syrians in the U.S., the revocation of TPS is not just a bureaucratic change—it’s a life-altering event. Many have built lives, families, and careers during their years in America. The 60-day deadline to depart or face deportation leaves little time for families to uproot, sell property, or make arrangements in a country still reeling from war. Community leaders warn that forcing people to return under these conditions could expose them to violence, persecution, or even death.
Yet, the Trump administration maintains that the time has come for Syrians to go home. Their argument hinges on the idea that Syria, following the fall of Assad, is no longer in a state of active civil war, and that the original rationale for TPS no longer applies. Critics, however, point out that while Assad may be gone, the power vacuum has led to new and unpredictable dangers, with armed groups vying for control and terrorist factions regaining ground.
According to the United Nations’ August 2025 report, “Syria remained in a volatile and precarious phase” even six months after Assad’s ouster. The report highlighted ongoing security threats, the proliferation of armed factions, and the country’s inability to reintegrate returnees safely. The U.N. also noted the challenges faced by the interim government in controlling foreign terrorist fighters and countering ISIL’s resurgence—a stark reminder that the conflict’s end has not brought peace or stability.
The debate over TPS for Syrians has also exposed deeper divisions within American society about the role of the U.S. in responding to global crises and the extent of its humanitarian obligations. Supporters of the Trump administration’s policy argue that TPS was never intended to be a permanent solution, and that the U.S. must prioritize its own security and immigration system integrity. They point to the need for clear limits and the importance of not allowing temporary programs to become de facto pathways to permanent residency.
Opponents, meanwhile, argue that the situation in Syria remains too dangerous to justify mass returns, and that the U.S. risks abdicating its moral responsibility to protect vulnerable people fleeing violence. They warn that the decision could have ripple effects, undermining America’s reputation as a refuge for those in need and sending a chilling message to other groups facing similar threats worldwide.
For the estimated 6,000 Syrians affected, the next two months will be filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Many are now scrambling to seek legal advice, explore other avenues for staying in the U.S., or make heartbreaking decisions about their futures. As the deadline looms, the fate of these families hangs in the balance, caught between shifting U.S. policy and a homeland still haunted by war.
The coming weeks will reveal whether advocacy efforts or legal challenges can alter the course set by the Trump administration. But for now, the message is clear: Syrians living under TPS in America must prepare to leave, even as the world watches to see what awaits them upon their return.