WASHINGTON — A group of U.S. lawmakers is urging President Donald Trump to extend humanitarian protections for Cameroonian nationals living in the United States, citing ongoing violence, human rights violations, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the central African nation.
In a letter dated April 4, 2025, members of Congress called on the Trump administration to redesignate and extend Cameroon’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which shields nationals from deportation and allows them to remain and work legally in the U.S. The lawmakers argue that conditions in Cameroon remain dire, posing a “severe risk” to returning citizens and making the continuation of TPS both a moral and strategic imperative.
“Continuing TPS protection for Cameroonians already residing in the United States is not only a humanitarian imperative but also aligns with the United States’ broader interests, including economic stability, security, and regional leadership,” the letter states.
Cameroon was initially granted TPS on June 7, 2022, due to escalating violence between government forces and armed Ambazonia fighters seeking independence from Cameroon. Human rights organizations reported widespread abuses committed against civilians, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to extend and redesignate Cameroon for TPS.
The lawmakers referenced the U.S. State Department’s 2023 Human Rights Report on Cameroon, which found “no significant changes in the human rights situation in Cameroon during the year.” The report detailed ongoing abuses including unlawful killings, abductions, and widespread human rights violations carried out by both separatist and government forces.
The conflict, centered largely in the Anglophone North-West and South-West regions, has displaced nearly one million people and left more than 1.8 million in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, the letter noted. Compounding the crisis is the resurgence of Boko Haram in the Far North region, which has added to the instability and hardship facing the country’s civilian population.
According to lawmakers, the humanitarian situation has further deteriorated due to economic collapse, destruction of infrastructure, and the spread of disease. As of late 2024, several regions of Cameroon are facing cholera outbreaks and growing food insecurity, deepening the suffering of vulnerable communities.
The State Department also noted mass displacement and violence had made it unsafe for Cameroonian nationals to return, reinforcing the need for continued protections under TPS.
The letter cites official sources including federal register notices and State Department reports to support its call for urgent action from the administration.
The Trump administration has not yet responded to the lawmakers’ request.
TPS is a designation granted by the Department of Homeland Security to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that prevent safe return. It is subject to periodic renewal and redesignation by the executive branch.
If the designation for Cameroon is not extended, thousands of Cameroonians, especially Southern Cameroonians in the U.S. could face deportation despite ongoing threats in their home country.
