February 2026

Takeaways

  • Current work authorization remains valid for now.
  • Employers should update Form I-9s with specific notations according to USCIS/E-Verify guidance (expiration “03-15-2026” and “as per court order”).
  • Employers should handle E-Verify consistently and use the 03.15.26 date from the I-9 in E-Verify cases.

Status of Haiti TPS Work Authorization

A federal court in the D.C.

California’s AB 692, officially in effect as of Jan. 1, 2026, is bringing notable changes to how employers may use repayment or “stay‑or‑pay” provisions in employment agreements. While the law applies broadly to various repayment obligations, AB 692 has meaningful implications for organizations that have historically used reimbursement agreements when sponsoring foreign national employees for…

On Feb. 13, 2026, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Yemen will not be extended.

This TPS designation will terminate 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. During this 60-day transition period, work authorization documents based upon TPS designation will remain valid. After the 60-day…

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed a lower court’s order vacating the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, reinstating the DHS termination.

In granting the stay pending appeal, the Ninth Circuit concluded the government is likely to succeed on the…

Takeaways

  • Haitian TPS will not end 02.03.26 after a federal court stayed DHS’s 11.28.25 termination notice.
  • Venezuela TPS is not reinstated despite the Ninth Circuit ruling, because a U.S. Supreme Court stay remains in effect pending further appeals.
  • As the latest developments show, TPS rules differ sharply by country, requiring careful, individualized employer review.

On…