Photo: Courtesy of The New Arab
(SACRAMENTO, CA – 9/23/2025) – The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today called the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians in America “premature,” as much of Syria remains devastated and uninhabitable following the destruction left by the former Assad regime.
SEE: US cancels temporary protected status for Syrians
On Sept. 19, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination, giving Syrians 60 days before facing arrest, deportation, and permanent bars to re-entry. The Federal Register notice confirms the termination will take effect on Nov. 21, 2025, affecting more than 6,000 Syrian nationals in the U.S. who have relied on TPS since 2012.
Entire neighborhoods in Syria still lack electricity, clean water, sewage, and habitable housing. Syrian refugees who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade want to return when conditions allow, but many need time to close out their affairs—including their children’s schools, their jobs, and their legal documents—before uprooting their lives.
In addition to these challenges, repeated Israeli military attacks and the presence of armed separatist militias continue to endanger civilian safety and undermine the security needed for displaced Syrians to return.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“Syrian TPS holders have been part of American society for more than a decade, contributing to our economy, raising families, and enriching our communities. It is simply not the time to send them back to a country where entire neighborhoods remain in ruins, and basic services such as clean water and electricity are still unavailable.
“Many Syrian families want to return when it is possible to do so safely and responsibly. But before that can happen, Syrians in the U.S. must be given time to wrap up their affairs here, and Syria itself must be given time to continue restoring infrastructure and stability in the face of ongoing threats from Israeli attacks and armed militias.
“Ending TPS for Syria on such short notice is premature, unnecessary, and reckless. We urge the Trump administration to reverse this order and extend TPS protections until conditions truly allow for safe and sustainable returns.”
CAIR-CA emphasized that this decision is a thinly veiled anti-refugee measure that scapegoats Syrians while ignoring DHS’s acknowledgment of “security and insurgent flare-ups, particularly involving former regime loyalists, sectarian tensions and other skirmishes.” Secretary Noem herself also admitted that “terrorism” threats remain.
CAIR-CA urges all Syrian TPS holders to immediately consult with immigration attorneys about possible legal protections, including asylum or adjustment of status.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by this measure, please contact CAIR-CA’s immigration department.
SEE ALSO:
- CAIR, CAIR Action Condemn Israeli State Terrorism After Back-to-Back Bombings of Tunisia, Qatar, Lebanon and Syria While Gaza Genocide Rages
- CAIR Condemns Deadly Israeli Attacks on Syria, Reiterates Call for U.S. to Demand Respect For Syrian Sovereignty
- CAIR Condemns ‘Cowardly, Horrific’ Bombing of Syrian Church, Welcomes Syria’s Efforts to Counter Extremism
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com
