A federal appeals court on Monday lifted an administrative stay allowing the Trump administration to proceed with revoking temporary protected status for migrants from Afghanistan and Cameroon.

In its ruling, a three-judge panel on the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit denied a motion filed by immigrant rights group CASA to delay the Department of Homeland Security‘s action.

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While it agrees with a district court’s ruling that immigration activists appear to have a plausible case that the Trump administration’s decision to cancel TPS protections for Afghanistan and Cameroon was “preordained,” the appeals court ruled in favor of the federal government.

“There is insufficient evidence to warrant the extraordinary remedy of a postponement of agency action pending appeal,” the judicial panel wrote.

The move affects roughly 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians.

By lifting the order, the court has permitted the Trump administration to begin deporting the affected groups after 11:59 p.m. Monday. The administrative stay was set to expire on July 21.

“We urge the district court to move expeditiously to minimize the uncertainty that will likely result from protracted litigation,” the ruling states. “Nothing in this Order should be construed to opine on whether a postponement of agency action may be warranted as this case proceeds.”

Monday’s ruling marks the Trump administration’s latest victory in its legal battles to continue revoking TPS protections and deporting those previously covered under the Biden-era designations.

Despite setbacks in court, DHS has moved in recent weeks to terminate protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti.

Under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS announced in April its intent to terminate TPS protections for Afghanistan and Cameroon on the basis that conditions in the two nations no longer merited the special designation.

The Biden administration first extended TPS protections to Afghans in 2023 following the U.S. military’s disastrous withdrawal and the Taliban’s subsequent takeover of the country in 2021. Some argue the Taliban still poses a threat to any migrants returning to Afghanistan, while the Trump administration maintains Afghanistan’s security situation has improved.

“This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent. We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation,” Noem said in May.

“Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country,” she added. “Additionally, the termination furthers the national interest as DHS records indicate that there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security. Reviewing TPS designations is a key part of restoring integrity in our immigration system.”

Cameroon is experiencing significant turmoil, including a civil war and a humanitarian crisis that contributed to making the African nation the world’s most neglected displacement crisis last year.

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The appeals court said those affected by the termination of the TPS protections “may be eligible for relief through applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection in accordance with the Convention Against Torture.”

The Trump administration sought to terminate the TPS program for Afghans on July 14, but that was temporarily blocked until now. The TPS program for Cameroonians is set to end on Aug. 4.