US judge allows Trump administration to end temporary protections for Ethiopians
A federal judge in the United States has ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 5,000 Ethiopians, a decision that could lead to their deportation. The ruling, issued by US District Judge Brian Murphy, lifts a temporary stay that had blocked the termination of the humanitarian protections.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly responded on social media, stating that those whose TPS has been terminated are in the country illegally and have two options: leave immediately or face deportation. James Percival, the department's general counsel, celebrated the ruling on X, saying, "All TPS terminations are in effect!"
The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling in June that ended similar protections for thousands of Haitians and Syrians. As part of its broader immigration enforcement efforts, the Trump administration has sought to cancel TPS for people from more than a dozen countries.
Ethiopia was the last country on the administration's list for TPS termination. The programme provides temporary work authorisation and protection from deportation to individuals who fled their home countries due to extraordinary events such as armed conflict or natural disasters.
Ethiopian nationals who filed a lawsuit to preserve their TPS status, along with the advocacy group African Communities Together, expressed deep disappointment. Diana Konaté, the group's deputy executive director of policy and advocacy, told Reuters, "The crisis in Ethiopia is still ongoing, and this decision puts the lives of thousands of Ethiopians living in the US at severe risk."
Judge Murphy dismissed some claims in the lawsuit but allowed the plaintiffs to continue litigating whether the administration's decision was motivated by racial or national origin animus, which would violate the US Constitution.
Ethiopia was first designated for TPS by the Biden administration in late 2022, following armed conflict in the country, including the Tigray war. At that time, the US government estimated that more than 20,000 displaced individuals who had arrived in the US and lived there continuously since October 2022 would qualify.
The security situation in Ethiopia remains fragile. In the northern Tigray region, millions live with fears of a wider conflict nearly four years after the end of a devastating two-year civil war. Recent weeks have seen reports of fighting and drone strikes in parts of Tigray. Tensions have risen as the federal government and Tigrayan leaders accuse each other of violating the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended the war that killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has moved to restore the prewar regional government and dismantle the interim administration appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Meanwhile, the federal government has accused Tigrayan leaders of cooperating with neighbouring Eritrea and the Sudanese military. The renewed confrontation has also raised concerns that Eritrea could become involved, potentially leading to wider regional unrest.
Beyond Tigray, Ethiopia continues to deal with armed insurgencies in Oromia and Amhara, its two most populous regional states. These ongoing conflicts have led many to argue that conditions in Ethiopia are not yet safe for the return of TPS holders.
The DHS first announced its decision to end TPS for Ethiopians in December, citing improved safety conditions in Ethiopia. The administration has already terminated TPS for several South and Central American countries, including Venezuela and Honduras. The latest ruling is part of a wider push by the Trump administration to reduce humanitarian protections, but it is likely to face further legal challenges as the remaining claims proceed through the courts.
