Massachusetts judge blocks Trump move to end temporary status for Ethiopians

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Decision to End Protection for Ethiopians

A federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 5,000 Ethiopians, dealing another significant legal blow to the administration’s immigration policies.

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ruled on Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated Ethiopia’s TPS designation “without regard for the process delineated by Congress.” The decision prevents the administration from moving forward with deportations of Ethiopian nationals who have been legally living and working in the United States under this protected status.

“Fundamental to this case — and indeed to our constitutional system — is the principle that the will of the President does not supersede that of Congress,” wrote Murphy, who was appointed by President Joe Biden. “Presidential whims do not and cannot supplant agencies’ statutory obligations.”

The ruling comes amid broader challenges to the Trump administration’s systematic dismantling of the TPS program, which has historically provided humanitarian protection to foreign nationals whose home countries face extraordinary conditions. Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, his administration has terminated TPS designations for 13 of the 17 countries that held this status during the previous Biden administration.

TPS was established by Congress in 1990 as a humanitarian measure to temporarily shield foreign nationals from deportation when their countries experience natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions that make return unsafe. The program grants work authorization and protection from deportation in increments of up to 18 months.

Ethiopia’s initial TPS designation came in 2022 under the Biden administration, which cited the need to protect Ethiopians from armed conflict and humanitarian suffering in their home country. The Biden administration extended this protection in April 2024, but the Trump administration reversed course in December 2025, claiming conditions in Ethiopia had improved sufficiently to terminate the designation.

This case represents just one front in a larger legal battle over the fate of TPS beneficiaries. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on April 29 regarding the administration’s efforts to terminate TPS for approximately 6,100 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians. The outcome of these cases could affect hundreds of thousands of individuals who have built lives in the United States, some for decades.

Venezuela currently comprises the largest group of TPS beneficiaries, followed by Haiti and El Salvador. In total, more than one million people from various countries have received protection through this program.

Immigration advocates have criticized the Trump administration’s approach to TPS, arguing that many designated countries continue to face serious challenges that make the safe return of their nationals impossible. They point to ongoing violence, political instability, and humanitarian crises in countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and Syria.

In response to Judge Murphy’s decision, DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis expressed disappointment, characterizing the ruling as an example of “judicial activists trying to prevent President Trump from restoring integrity to America’s legal immigration system.” She emphasized that TPS is intended to be temporary, not a permanent immigration solution.

The legal challenges to TPS terminations highlight the tension between executive immigration enforcement priorities and legislative humanitarian protections. As courts continue to review these cases, the future remains uncertain for hundreds of thousands of TPS holders who have established homes, businesses, and families in the United States over many years.

For Ethiopia’s TPS holders specifically, Judge Murphy’s ruling provides temporary relief as they can continue living and working legally in the United States while the legal process unfolds.