A U.S. federal judge has blocked the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) termination for more than 5,000 Ethiopians, delivering a fresh legal setback to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
In a ruling issued in Boston, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy found that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acted unlawfully in attempting to revoke the protections, which allow eligible migrants to live and work in the United States.
TPS is granted to nationals of countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions, shielding them from deportation and granting temporary work authorization.
Murphy said the administration’s decision appeared predetermined, citing a 2025 executive order by Trump directing DHS to limit TPS designations. He wrote that the directive suggested decisions were being made without genuine review of conditions on the ground.
The judge concluded that DHS had disregarded procedures set by Congress and relied on a “pretextual” justification to end protections for Ethiopians, despite ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crises in the country.
“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,” Murphy wrote, emphasizing that executive authority cannot override statutory obligations.
The Department of Homeland Security rejected the ruling, with a spokesperson accusing courts of interfering with efforts to “restore integrity” to the U.S. immigration system.
The case comes ahead of a broader legal battle, as the Supreme Court of the United States prepares to hear arguments on April 29 over whether the administration can end TPS protections for more than 350,000 Haitians and around 6,100 Syrians.
TPS for Ethiopians was first granted in 2022 under former President Joe Biden, citing conflict and humanitarian conditions, and was extended again in 2024. DHS later moved to terminate the designation, arguing conditions had improved.
The lawsuit, brought by Ethiopian nationals and advocacy group African Communities Together, argued the administration ignored ongoing dangers in Ethiopia and acted on discriminatory motives.
Murphy had previously issued a temporary order in January, pausing the termination before the protections were due to expire in February, allowing time for the court to review the case.