Key facts
- A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with canceling Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 5,000 Ethiopians in the U.S.
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can cancel Temporary Protected Status for approximately 5,000 Ethiopians living in the U.S., allowing for their deportation. The decision follows similar rulings for other nationalities and is part of a broader immigration crackdown.
This ruling allows for the potential deportation of thousands of Ethiopians who have been living in the U.S. under protected status, raising humanitarian concerns amid ongoing conflict in their home country and allowing for further legal challenges regarding potential discrimination.
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with canceling Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 5,000 Ethiopians living in the U.S. The decision by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy lifts a temporary stay that had blocked the administration's efforts to end these humanitarian protections.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated on X that individuals with terminated TPS are in the country illegally and have two options: leave immediately or be deported. James Percival, DHS's general counsel, celebrated the ruling, posting that "All TPS terminations are in effect!"
Ethiopia was the final country for which the Trump administration sought to end TPS, a status granted to individuals fleeing their home countries due to extraordinary events like natural disasters and armed conflict. This status provides temporary work authorization and protection from deportation.
Ethiopian nationals and the advocacy group African Communities Together expressed disappointment. Diana Konaté, deputy executive director of policy and advocacy for African Communities Together, told Reuters that the ruling "puts the lives of thousands of Ethiopians living in the U.S. at severe risk" due to the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia.
Judge Murphy dismissed some claims in the lawsuit but allowed plaintiffs to continue litigating whether the cancellation was motivated by racial or national origin animus, which would violate the U.S. Constitution. Ethiopia was initially designated for TPS in 2022 following armed conflict, including the Tigray war. Despite a 2022 peace agreement, fighting and tensions persist in the region.