[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23697-23699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10236]
[[Page 23697]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[CIS No. 2815-25; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2022-0005]
RIN 1615-ZB95
Termination of the Designation of Cameroon for Temporary
Protected Status
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department
of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Through this notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is
terminating the designation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS). The designation of Cameroon is set to expire on June 7, 2025.
After reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S.
Government agencies, the Secretary determined that Cameroon no longer
continues to meet the conditions for the designation for TPS, and
termination of the TPS designation of Cameroon is required by statute.
This termination is effective August 4, 2025. After August 4, 2025,
nationals of Cameroon (and aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Cameroon) who have been granted TPS under
Cameroon's designation will no longer have TPS.
DATES: The designation of Cameroon for TPS is terminated, effective at
11:59 p.m., local time, on August 4, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ren[aacute] Cutlip-Mason, Chief,
Humanitarian Affairs Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security,
800-375-5283.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Abbreviations
CFR--Code of Federal Regulations
DHS--U.S. Department of Homeland Security
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
FR--Federal Register
FRN--Federal Register notice
Government--U.S. Government
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
Secretary--Secretary of Homeland Security
TPS--Temporary Protected Status
USCIS--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S.C.--United States Code
What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorizes the Secretary
of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate agencies of
the U.S. Government, to designate a foreign state (or part thereof) for
TPS if the Secretary determines that certain country conditions exist.
See INA sec. 244(b)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1). The determination whether
to designate any foreign state (or part thereof) for TPS is
discretionary, and there is no judicial review of ``any determination
of the [Secretary] with respect to the designation, or termination or
extension of a designation, of a foreign state'' for TPS. See INA sec.
244(b)(5)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(5)(A). If the Secretary designates a
country for TPS, she may grant TPS, in her discretion, to eligible
nationals of that foreign state (or aliens having no nationality who
last habitually resided in the designated foreign state). See INA sec.
244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A).
At least 60 days before the expiration of a foreign state's TPS
designation or extension, the Secretary, after consultation with
appropriate U.S. Government agencies, must review the conditions in the
foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether they continue to
meet the conditions for the TPS designation. See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A),
8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that the
conditions in the foreign state continue to meet the specific statutory
criteria for TPS designation, TPS will be extended for an additional
period of 6 months or, in the Secretary's discretion, 12 or 18 months.
See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A), (C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A), (C). If the
Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the
conditions for TPS designation, the Secretary must terminate the
designation. See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B).
TPS is a temporary immigration benefit granted to eligible
nationals of a country designated for TPS under the INA, or to eligible
aliens without nationality who last habitually resided in the
designated country. During the TPS designation period, TPS
beneficiaries are eligible to remain in the United States, may not be
removed, and are authorized to work and obtain an Employment
Authorization Document (EAD) so long as they continue to meet the
requirements of TPS. TPS beneficiaries may also apply for and be
granted travel authorization as a matter of discretion. The granting of
TPS does not result in or lead to lawful permanent resident status or
any other immigration status.
To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries must meet the eligibility
standards at INA section 244(c)(2), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2) and the
implementing regulations at 8 CFR parts 244 and 1244. When the
Secretary terminates a country's TPS designation, beneficiaries return
to the same immigration status or category that they maintained before
TPS, if any (unless that status or category has since expired or been
terminated), or any other lawfully obtained immigration status or
category they received while registered for TPS, as long as it is still
valid on the date TPS terminates.
Designation of Cameroon for TPS
Cameroon was initially designated for TPS on June 7, 2022, for a
period of 18 months, on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and
extraordinary and temporary conditions in Cameroon that prevented
nationals of Cameroon from returning in safety.\1\ Following the
initial designation, DHS extended the designation of Cameroon and newly
designated Cameroon for TPS for 18 months, beginning on December 8,
2023, and ending on June 7, 2025, based on ongoing armed conflict and
extraordinary and temporary conditions.\2\
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\1\ See Designation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status,
87 FR 34706 (June 7, 2022).
\2\ See Extension and Redesignation of Cameroon for Temporary
Protected Status, 88 FR 69945 (Oct. 10, 2023).
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Secretary's Authority To Terminate the Designation of Cameroon for TPS
At least 60 days before the expiration of a foreign state's TPS
designation or extension, the Secretary, after consultation with
appropriate U.S. Government agencies, must review the conditions in the
foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether they continue to
meet the conditions for the TPS designation. See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A),
8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that foreign state
no longer meets the conditions for the TPS designation, the Secretary
terminates the designation, but such termination may not take effect
earlier than 60 days after the date the Federal Register notice (FRN)
of termination is published, or if later, the expiration of the most
recent previous extension of the country designation. See INA sec.
244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B). The Secretary may determine the
appropriate effective date of the termination and expiration of any
TPS-related documentation, such as EADs, issued or renewed after the
effective
[[Page 23698]]
date of the termination. See id.; see also INA sec. 244(d)(3), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(d)(3) (providing the Secretary the discretionary ``option'' to
allow for a certain ``orderly transition'' period if she determines it
to be appropriate).
Reasons for the Secretary's Termination of the TPS Designation for
Cameroon
Consistent with INA section 244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A),
after consulting with appropriate U.S. Government agencies, the
Secretary reviewed country conditions in Cameroon and considered
whether requiring the return of Cameroonian nationals (and aliens
having no nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon) to
Cameroon poses a serious threat to their personal safety due to ongoing
armed conflict. The Secretary also considered whether there are
extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Cameroonian
nationals from returning in safety, and whether despite any
extraordinary and temporary conditions that may prevent their safe
return, permitting Cameroonian nationals to remain temporarily in the
United States is contrary to the national interest of the United
States. Overall, while certain conditions that led to the initial
designation of TPS for Cameroon may continue, they do not pose a
serious threat to individual safety due to ongoing armed conflict and
do not result in Cameroonians being unable to safely return.
Based on the Department's review, the Secretary has determined the
conditions supporting Cameroon's June 7, 2022, designation for TPS on
the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary
conditions are no longer met. Cameroon is currently experiencing two
major conflicts: (1) In the Far North region, the government is dealing
with extremist insurgency groups, such as Boko Haram, near the Lake
Chad area,\3\ and (2) in the Northwest and Southwest regions, an
ongoing conflict persists between the Anglophone (English-speaking)
separatists and the Francophone (French-speaking) central government of
Cameroon.\4\ While these conflicts remain active, they are contained in
limited regions that primarily impact only three of the ten regions
comprising Cameroon.\5\ As a result, Cameroonian aliens can return to
the majority of areas in Cameroon that do not pose a serious threat to
personal safety. Though crime is prevalent in some regions of
Cameroon,\6\ the generalized criminal activity in those regions does
not form a sufficient basis for extraordinary and temporary conditions
for TPS.
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\3\ Curbing Feuds over Water in Cameroon's Far North,
International Crisis Group, April 25, 2024, available at https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon/b197-curbing-feuds-over-water-cameroons-far-north (last visited Feb. 3, 2025).
\4\ Human Rights Watch, World Report 2024: Cameroon, available
at https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/cameroon
(last visited Apr. 7, 2025).
\5\ Cameroon is divided into 10 administrative regions:
Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extr[ecirc]me-Nord),
Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South
(Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest). World Factbook, United States Central
Intelligence Agency, Cameroon, available at https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cameroon/ (last visited Apr. 22, 2025); see
also Human Rights Watch, World Report 2024: Cameroon, available at
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/cameroon
(last visited Apr. 7, 2025).
\6\ Cameroon Travel Advisory, U.S. Department of State, December
18, 2024, available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/cameroon-travel-advisory.html
(last visited Mar. 19, 2025).
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Additionally, Cameroon has been regularly accepting the return of
its nationals with final removal orders since it was designated for
TPS.
The Secretary has determined that, even assuming there remain
extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Cameroonian
nationals from safely returning, termination of its TPS designation is
required because it is contrary to the national interest to permit
Cameroonian nationals (or aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Cameroon) to remain temporarily in the United
States.\7\ By statute, the Secretary is prohibited from designating a
country for TPS or extending a TPS designation on the basis of
extraordinary and temporary conditions if she finds that ``permitting
the aliens to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to
the national interest of the United States.'' \8\ ``National interest''
is not defined in the INA. However, it is an expansive standard that
may encompass an array of broad considerations, including foreign
policy, public safety (e.g., potential nexus to criminal gang
membership), national security, migration factors (e.g., pull factors),
immigration policy (e.g., enforcement prerogatives), and economic
considerations (e.g., adverse effects on U.S. workers, impact on U.S.
communities).\9\ Determining whether permitting a class of aliens to
remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the U.S.
national interest therefore calls upon the Secretary's expertise and
discretionary judgment, informed by her consultations with appropriate
U.S. Government agencies.
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\7\ See INS v. Bagamasbad, 429 U.S. 24, 25 (1976) (per curiam)
(``As a general rule courts and agencies are not required to make
findings on issues the decision of which is unnecessary to the
results they reach.'').
\8\ See INA 244(b)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1).
\9\ See, e.g., Poursina v. USCIS, 936 F.3d 868, 874 (9th Cir.
2019) (observing, in an analogous INA context, ``that the `national
interest' standard invokes broader economic and national-security
considerations, and such determinations are firmly committed to the
discretion of the Executive Branch--not to federal courts'' (citing
Trump v. Hawaii, 585 U.S. 667, 684-86 (2018)); Flores v. Garland, 72
F.4th 85, 89-90 (5th Cir. 2023) (same); Brasil v. Sec'y, Dep't of
Homeland Sec., 28 F.4th 1189, 1193 (11th Cir. 2022) (same); cf.
Matter of D-J-, 23 I&N Dec. 572, 579-81 (A.G. 2003) (recognizing
that taking measures to stem and eliminate possible incentives for
potential large-scale migration from a given country is ``sound
immigration policy'' and an ``important national security
interest''); Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884, 890-91 (AAO 2016)
(taking into account impact on U.S. workers in ``national interest''
assessments).
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Separately, President Trump clearly articulated an array of policy
imperatives bearing upon the national interest in his recent
immigration and border-related executive orders and proclamations. In
Executive Order 14159, President Trump underscored that enforcing the
immigration laws ``is critically important to the national security and
public safety of the United States.'' \10\ In furtherance of that
objective, the President directed the Secretary, along with the
Attorney General and Secretary of State, to promptly take all
appropriate action, consistent with law, to rescind policies that led
to increased or continued presence of illegal aliens in the United
States.\11\ Among the directed actions are to ensure that the TPS
designations are consistent with the TPS statute and ``are
appropriately limited in scope and made for only so long as may be
necessary to fulfill the textual requirements of that statute.'' \12\
The Department has reappraised the national interest factors and
determined, in its discretion, that continuing to permit Cameroonian
nationals (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided
in Cameroon) to reside in the United States would be inconsistent with
both INA 244 and E.O. 14159 in light of the Secretary's determination
that they may return in safety.
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\10\ E.O. 14159, Protecting the American People Against
Invasion, sec. 1, 90 FR 8443, 8443 (Jan. 20, 2025).
\11\ Id., sec. 16, 90 FR 8446.
\12\ Id., sec. 16(b), 90 FR 8446.
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DHS estimates that there are approximately 5,200 nationals of
Cameroon (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided
[[Page 23699]]
in Cameroon) who hold TPS under Cameroon's designation.\13\
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\13\ As of April 7, 2025, approximately 200 of these nationals
of Cameroon (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually
resided in Cameroon) are also approved as Lawful Permanent
Residents. Data queried by Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Performance and
Quality April 2025.
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Effective Date of Termination of the Designation
The TPS statute provides that the termination of a country's TPS
designation may not be effective earlier than 60 days after the FRN is
published or, if later, the expiration of the most recent previous
extension. See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B).
The Secretary may determine the appropriate effective date of the
termination and the expiration of any TPS-related documentation, such
as EADs, for the purpose of providing for an orderly transition. See
INA sec. 244(d)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(d)(3). Given the Secretary's finding
that continuing to permit Cameroonian nationals to remain temporarily
in the United States is contrary to the U.S. national interest and that
the conditions under INA section 244(b)(1)(A) and (b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1)(A), (b)(1)(C), no longer continue to be met, the Secretary
has determined that it is not appropriate to allow for a further
transition period. Accordingly, the termination of the Cameroon TPS
designation will be effective 60 days from the date of publication of
this notice in the Federal Register.\14\
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\14\ See 8 CFR 244.19 (``Upon the termination of designation of
a foreign state, those nationals afforded temporary Protected Status
shall, upon the sixtieth (60th) day after the date notice of
termination is published in the Federal Register, or on the last day
of the most recent extension of designation by the [Secretary of
Homeland Security], automatically and without further notice or
right of appeal, lose Temporary Protected Status in the United
States. Such termination of a foreign state's designation is not
subject to appeal.'').
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The Secretary has considered whether there are putative reliance
interests in the Cameroon TPS designation, especially when considering
whether to allow for an additional transition period similar to that
allowed under certain previous TPS terminations. Temporary Protected
Status, as the name itself makes clear, is an inherently temporary
status. TPS designations are time-limited and must be periodically
reviewed, and TPS notices clearly notify aliens of the designations'
expiration dates, and whether to allow for an orderly transition period
is left to the Secretary's unfettered discretion. See INA sec.
244(b)(3), (d)(3); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3), (d)(3).\15\
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\15\ DHS recognizes that certain previous TPS terminations
allowed for an extended transition, especially in the case of TPS
designations that had been extended numerous times over the course
of many years. See, e.g., Termination of the Designation of El
Salvador for Temporary Protected Status, 83 FR 2654 (Jan. 18, 2018)
(nearly 17 years, with 18-month transition period); Termination of
the Designation of Sudan for Temporary Protected Status, 82 FR 47228
(Oct. 11, 2017) (20 years, with 12-month orderly transition period);
Termination of the Designation of Sierra Leone Under the Temporary
Protected Status Program; Extension of Employment Authorization
Documentation, 68 FR 52407 (Sept. 3, 2003) (nearly 6 years, with 6-
month orderly transition period); Six-Month Extension of Temporary
Protected Status Benefits for Orderly Transition Before Termination
of Liberia's Designation for Temporary Protected Status, 81 FR 66059
(Sept. 26, 2016) (nearly 2 years, with 6-month orderly transition
period). Those countries, however, generally had been designated for
TPS for longer periods. At the same time, certain other TPS
designations were terminated without allowing for an extended
transition period. See, e.g., Termination of Designation of Angola
Under the Temporary Protected Status Program, 68 FR 3896 (Jan. 27,
2003) (nearly 3 years, no orderly transition period); Termination of
Designation of Lebanon Under Temporary Protected Status Program, 58
FR 7582 (Feb. 8, 1993) (2 years, no extended transition period).
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DHS recognizes that Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries continue to be
employment authorized during the 60-day transition period.\16\
Accordingly, through this FRN, DHS automatically extends the validity
of certain EADs previously issued under the TPS designation of Cameroon
through August 4, 2025. Therefore, as proof of continued employment
authorization through August 4, 2025, Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries can
show their EADs that have the notation A-12 or C-19 under Category and
a ``Card Expires'' date of June 7, 2025.
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\16\ See INA 244(a)(1)(B); see also 8 CFR 244.13(b).
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Notice of the Termination of the TPS Designation of Cameroon
By the authority vested in me as Secretary under INA section
244(b)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3), I have reviewed, in consultation with
the appropriate U.S. Government agencies, (a) conditions in Cameroon;
(b) whether the return of its nationals (and aliens having no
nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon) would pose a
serious threat to their personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict;
(c) whether there are extraordinary and temporary conditions that would
prevent its nationals (and aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Cameroon) from safely returning, and (d) whether
permitting the nationals of Cameroon (and aliens having no nationality
who last habitually resided in Cameroon) to remain temporarily in the
United States is contrary to the national interest of the United
States. Based on my review, I have determined, in my discretion, that
Cameroon no longer continues to meet the conditions for a designation
for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under INA section 244(b)(1)(A) or
(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A) or (C).
Accordingly, I order as follows:
(1) Pursuant to INA section 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(B),
and considering INA section 244(d)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(d)(3), the
designation of Cameroon for TPS is terminated effective at 11:59 p.m.,
local time, on August 4, 2025.
(2) Information concerning the termination of TPS for nationals of
Cameroon (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided
in Cameroon) will be available at local USCIS offices upon publication
of this Notice and through the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283.
This information will be published on the USCIS website at
www.uscis.gov.
Kristi Noem,
Secretary of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2025-10236 Filed 6-2-25; 4:15 pm]
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