A federal judge in Boston has lifted an administrative stay, permitting the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy's decision on Tuesday removes a key obstacle that had been blocking the end of the program for this group.
The ruling follows similar court orders in recent months that have allowed the administration to terminate TPS for nationals from countries including Haiti, Somalia, Syria, and Myanmar, as part of its broader immigration enforcement efforts. The U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled in June that the administration could end protections for Haitian TPS holders.
TPS, established under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, offers work authorization and protection from deportation to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other "extraordinary and temporary conditions" deemed unsafe by the U.S. government.
The advocacy group African Communities Together had filed a lawsuit in January, asserting that Ethiopia continues to face a humanitarian crisis. The group's original complaint stated that terminating TPS for Ethiopians would force plaintiffs to make difficult choices, such as seeking safety in a third country, remaining in the U.S. without legal status and facing potential detention and removal, or returning to Ethiopia amid ongoing conflict.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated that individuals with terminated TPS should depart the United States. A post on X from the department indicated that those who do not leave will face deportation.