United States: DHS Announces Termination of the Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status
September 22, 2025
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At a glance
- Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will not extend the Syria Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, which is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2025, but beneficiaries will be granted a transition period through November 21, 2025.
- Beneficiaries with certain previously issued EADs will continue to be work authorized during the transition period.
A closer look
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not extending the Syria Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, but will provide a 60-day transition period, according to a Federal Register notice published today. The Syria TPS designation expires on September 30, 2025; beneficiaries will be granted a transition period through November 21, 2025, which is 60 days after publication of the Federal Register termination notice. Beneficiaries will remain work-authorized throughout the transition period.
According to the Federal Register notice, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has determined that the conditions for the TPS designation no longer exist for Syria.
Background
Syria was most recently designated for TPS from April 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions within Syria. The notice confirms Secretary Noem’s decision to terminate the TPS designation for Syria was based on a comprehensive assessment of national interest factors including public safety, national security, and foreign policy as well as an analysis of the current conditions in Syria.
Employment authorization during 60-day transition period
DHS recognizes that TPS beneficiaries under the Syria designation continue to be employment-authorized during the 60-day transition period. Accordingly, through the Federal Register notice, DHS automatically extends the validity of certain EADs previously issued under the designation, through November 21, 2025.
As proof of continued employment authorization for the 60-day transition period, TPS beneficiaries can present an EAD that has the notation A-12 or C-19 under Category and a “Card Expires” date of September 30, 2025; March 31, 2024; September 30, 2022; or March 31, 2021, issued under a prior TPS designation of Syria.
Employers will need to reverify the employment eligibility of any employees who presented Syria TPS EADs as proof of work authorization, and update their records to indicate the new November 21, 2025 expiration date.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
