H.R. 6946

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6946 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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).
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