US Court Removes Final Barrier to Ending TPS for Ethiopians, Paving Way for Deportations

A US federal judge has cleared the path for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 5,000 Ethiopians residing in the United States, eliminating the final judicial hurdle against their potential deportation.

On Tuesday, US District Judge Brian Murphy dismissed previous legal arguments that delayed the termination of TPS protections. He ruled that the authority to end TPS lies with the Attorney General rather than the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), rejecting claims to the contrary.

Background on TPS and Impacted Nationals

Temporary Protected Status is a legal designation allowing foreign nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to stay and work legally in the US temporarily. As of March 2026, approximately 1.29 million people from 17 countries benefit from TPS.

The Trump administration's wider effort to phase out TPS could affect over one million individuals. Besides Ethiopians, TPS termination plans have targeted nationals from Venezuela, Nicaragua, South Sudan, and Somalia among others.

Ethiopian TPS Termination and Controversy

Ethiopians were granted TPS in 2022 under the Biden administration due to ongoing violence and humanitarian crises. However, in December 2025, DHS announced the end of these protections, arguing that the situation in Ethiopia no longer posed a serious threat to returnees' safety.

Human rights groups have strongly contested this, highlighting that Ethiopia remains unstable. The US State Department currently issues a Level 3 travel advisory for Ethiopia, warning of unrest, crime, terrorism, and landmines.

Reactions and Next Steps

• Diana Konate of African Communities Together said the decision endangers thousands of Ethiopians in the US.
• Following the ruling, DHS General Counsel James Percival stated that all TPS terminations are now effective.
• Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized the temporary nature of TPS and warned affected individuals to either leave voluntarily or face deportation.
• Judge Murphy’s decision may still be appealed on grounds of possible racial or national origin bias in the termination process.