The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can designate a foreign country to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to conditions in that country that prevent the country’s citizens from returning to their country temporarily safely.

USCIS could grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts thereof) that are already in the United States. People who do not have a nationality and whose last residence was the designated country could also obtain TPS.

The Secretary of DHS may designate a country to TPS due to the following temporary conditions:

• Armed conflict in progress (such as a civil war).
• A natural disaster (such as an earthquake or hurricane) or an epidemic.
• Other extraordinary and temporary conditions.

By: uscis.gov