A federal judge in Massachusetts has postponed the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals residing in the United States, finding that the Trump administration unlawfully attempted to end the designation. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy issued the order on April 8, 2026, citing a failure to follow the procedural requirements established by Congress.
The TPS designation allows immigrants from designated countries to live and work in the U.S. temporarily without fear of deportation due to conditions such as armed conflict or humanitarian crises in their home country. The Biden administration granted TPS to thousands of Ethiopian immigrants starting in 2022 and extended the protection in 2024.
In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Ethiopia no longer met the conditions for TPS, setting a termination date of February 13, 2026. However, Judge Murphy ruled this decision was made “without regard for the process delineated by Congress,” emphasizing that “the will of the President does not supersede that of Congress” and that agencies must observe statutory obligations.
The ruling directly challenges the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, particularly its effort to end TPS for 13 countries as part of a broader crackdown. Following the ruling, DHS criticized the decision, stating that “temporary means temporary” and asserting that conditions in Ethiopia had improved sufficiently to no longer warrant TPS protections.
The Trump administration is also facing legal challenges regarding the termination of TPS for Syrian and Haitian nationals, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear arguments on those cases in late April 2026.
Why it matters
The judge’s decision halts the planned removal of legal protections for thousands of Ethiopians living in the U.S., maintaining their ability to work and remain in the country legally. It underscores the ongoing legal battles over immigration policy and the limits of executive authority in terminating TPS without Congressional-mandated procedures.
Background
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration measure granted when conditions in a foreign country prevent safe return. TPS has been extended to various countries over the years due to natural disasters, conflicts, or other emergencies. The Trump administration sought to end TPS designations as part of its “America First” immigration enforcement policy, citing improvements in country conditions as justification.
This ruling reflects judicial scrutiny of those efforts and may influence the handling of other contentious TPS terminations currently before the courts.
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