With Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudanese nationals set to end on Jan. 5, 2026, hundreds of people in the United States are confronting the possibility of being forced to return to a country still beset by conflict, famine, and political instability.
Lives in Limbo
Alex Lomong, 28, a Virginia resident and former Division I athlete at Ohio State University, represents many whose futures hang in the balance. Having fled South Sudan as a child and arrived in the U.S. on a student visa in 2009, Lomong has built his life and athletic career here. He described the prospect of being deported as “basically like a suicide mission.”
TPS, first granted to South Sudanese in 2011, allows individuals from unsafe countries to live and work in the U.S. temporarily. Many TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for over a decade, contributing to communities, paying taxes, and building businesses.
“You have people who have been relying on that status for at least 14 years, who have paid their taxes, worked, built lives here, and contributed to the U.S. economy,” said Mariam Masumi, an immigration lawyer.
South Sudan Remains Unsafe
South Sudan is still facing severe instability, including armed violence, mass displacement, and widespread hunger. The U.N. reports millions are food-insecure, and political corruption continues to deepen humanitarian crises. The U.S. State Department designates South Sudan as a Level 4 travel risk, warning that Americans are at danger from crime, unrest, and landmines.
Impact on U.S. Communities
Many South Sudanese TPS holders have settled in places like Maine, where they have helped revitalize local communities and labor forces. They have opened grocery stores, churches, and nonprofit organizations, contributing significantly to their communities.
- John Ochira, a Maine community leader, emphasized that many South Sudanese have naturalized, but others face uncertainty without legal pathways to remain.
- Reverend Matthew Long reported panic among congregants following the TPS termination announcement, noting barriers to affordable legal assistance.
Limited Options to Stay
TPS does not provide a path to permanent residency, and other immigration avenues are largely inaccessible:
- Asylum cases face backlogs of 8–10 years
- Refugee programs have shifted under Trump administration policies
- Other visa categories like H-visas may be difficult to qualify for
“Under normal circumstances, TPS holders who lose status might shift to another category like asylum, an H-visa, or another visa they qualify for. But those avenues are largely closed, leaving almost no alternative pathways for people to remain in the country,” said Ruben Torres, advocacy manager at the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition.
Hopes Amid Uncertainty
Despite the looming threat of deportation, Lomong continues to pursue his dreams of competing in the Olympics, like his brother Lopez, who was a U.S. flag bearer in 2008. He hopes to continue building a life in the U.S., free from the fear of forced return.
“I think it’s sad that we are just all a bunch of pawns in this big chess game, and we don’t have a choice to make any moves,” Lomong said.
Key Takeaways:
- TPS for South Sudanese expires Jan. 5, 2026, affecting hundreds in the U.S.
- South Sudan remains unsafe, with ongoing conflict, corruption, and famine
- Many TPS holders have long-established lives in the U.S., contributing to communities and economy
- Alternative immigration pathways are limited or inaccessible
