Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026

What it does

• •Designates Afghanistan under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, making Afghan nationals eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from the bill's enactment through July 1, 2029.
• •Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to process TPS applications and employment authorization requests from Afghan nationals within 90 days, with possible 150-day extensions for national security reviews.
• •Deems eligible Afghan nationals who have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since enactment and meet standard admissibility and background check requirements.
• •Allows the Secretary to grant prior consent for brief emergency travel abroad and waives filing fees for Afghan TPS applicants.

Why it matters

• •Provides legal protection from deportation and work authorization for Afghan nationals currently in the U.S. during a three-year period, addressing the humanitarian situation following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• •Establishes expedited processing timelines and fee waivers to facilitate access to TPS protections for a vulnerable population.

Who is affected

• •Nationals of Afghanistan who have been continuously physically present in the United States since the bill's enactment and meet standard immigration eligibility criteria.
• •The Department of Homeland Security, which must receive, process, and adjudicate applications within specified timelines.

What happens next

The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary as of August 6, 2026; further legislative action requires committee consideration and floor votes in both chambers.