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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6946 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6946
To amend section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to
terminate Temporary Protected Status designations for certain
countries.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Temporary Protected Status Reform
Act of 2026.''
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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