US judge allows Trump to end deportation protections for 5,000 Ethiopians
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U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston on Tuesday allowed President Donald Trump's administration to end Temporary Protected Status for more than 5,000 Ethiopians. The ruling lifts the last judicial block on the Department of Homeland Security terminating TPS designations, and DHS General Counsel James Percival said all TPS terminations are in effect.
Key Facts
- Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival wrote "All TPS terminations are in effect!" after the ruling.
- Advocacy group African Communities Together said the decision puts the lives of thousands of Ethiopians in the U.S. at severe risk because the crisis in Ethiopia is ongoing.
- Former President Joe Biden's administration first granted Ethiopia TPS in 2022, and DHS under former Secretary Kristi Noem announced in December it would end those protections.
- The Supreme Court in June allowed the administration to end similar protections for people from Haiti and Syria, curtailing judicial review of TPS terminations.
- Trump has sought to end TPS protections for a range of nationalities since returning to office for a second term in 2025.
The Ruling
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston lifted the last judicial block on the Department of Homeland Security terminating Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia. The ruling affects more than 5,000 Ethiopians who had been allowed to live and work in the United States. The Supreme Court in June allowed the administration to end similar protections for people from Haiti and Syria, curtailing lower courts' ability to review TPS terminations. The Supreme Court's ruling, backed by its 6-3 conservative majority, curtailed the ability of judges to review DHS efforts to end TPS designations for 13 countries. DHS General Counsel James Percival wrote "All TPS terminations are in effect!" after the decision.
Advocacy Response
African Communities Together expressed disappointment in Tuesday's ruling and said the crisis in Ethiopia is still ongoing. Diana Konaté, the group's deputy executive director of policy and advocacy, said the decision puts the lives of thousands of Ethiopians in the U.S. at severe risk. TPS under federal law is available to people whose home countries have experienced natural disasters, armed conflicts or other extraordinary events.
TPS Background
Former President Joe Biden's administration first granted Ethiopia TPS in 2022, citing armed conflict and humanitarian suffering. DHS under former Secretary Kristi Noem announced in December it would end those protections, saying conditions no longer posed a serious threat to Ethiopians returning safely. Trump has sought to end TPS protections for a range of nationalities since returning to office for a second term in 2025. Judge Murphy in April had blocked DHS's action, saying it disregarded statutory procedures and provided a pretextual rationale.
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US judge allows Trump to end deportation protections for 5,000 Ethiopians
