Which of the following does NOT provide a basis for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is designed to offer temporary relief to individuals from designated countries experiencing certain extraordinary circumstances. The bases for TPS include ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, and situations that create a severe environmental disaster, such as earthquakes or hurricanes.

Ongoing armed conflict provides a basis for TPS as it may put the lives of citizens from affected countries at risk, preventing them from returning home safely. Natural disasters are also a well-established basis for TPS, intended to protect individuals from returning to areas where conditions are unsafe or uninhabitable due to catastrophic events. Similarly, severe environmental disasters, which can result in significant disruption to living conditions, also qualify for TPS.

In contrast, economic hardship, while a serious issue, does not meet the criteria for TPS. Economic conditions alone, without a direct link to armed conflict or environmental disasters, do not justify the need for protection under TPS. Therefore, the correct answer identifies economic hardship as the option that does not provide a basis for Temporary Protected Status.