Judge Delays Ethiopian TPS Termination in US

Federal Judge Postpones Ethiopian TPS Termination

A federal judge in Massachusetts has postponed the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Ethiopians living in the U.S., ruling that the Trump administration unlawfully attempted to end it.

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy stated the Trump administration terminated the designation “without regard for the process delineated by Congress.”

The Biden administration granted TPS to thousands of Ethiopian immigrants starting in 2022, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation due to armed conflict or humanitarian emergencies in their home country. The status was extended in 2024.

In December, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Ethiopia “no longer met the conditions” for TPS, with protections set to end on Feb. 13. Judge Murphy emphasized that the President’s will does not supersede Congress’ statutory obligations. He criticized the DHS for disregarding both principles and statutory schemes.

This is the latest setback for the Trump administration, which has sought to terminate TPS for 13 countries as part of its crackdown on immigration. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in late April regarding the administration’s efforts to remove TPS for Syrian and Haitian nationals.