A federal judge on Tuesday lifted the last remaining legal barrier to ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Ethiopia, allowing the Trump administration’s termination of protections for 13 countries to proceed.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, an appointee of President Joe Biden, vacated an administrative order that had temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from revoking TPS for Ethiopia. The decision follows a June Supreme Court ruling that restricted judicial review of TPS terminations, effectively ending legal challenges in most cases.
Murphy’s order means all of the Trump administration’s TPS terminations are now enforceable, though one legal claim alleging racial or national-origin bias in the decision-making process remains active. The judge permitted plaintiffs to continue pursuing this allegation despite dismissing other arguments due to the Supreme Court’s precedent.
DHS Response
A DHS spokesperson declined to comment on next steps for affected individuals, stating only that the agency conducts law enforcement activities “to keep Americans safe.” The spokesperson reiterated the administration’s position that TPS was never intended to function as a permanent program, despite Congress never formally designating it as such.
Legal Context and Timeline
TPS, which grants temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals of countries facing conflict or natural disasters, was terminated for 13 countries during the Trump administration. Some countries lost protections last year, while others were affected by the Supreme Court’s June decision in favor of DHS.
Ethiopia-Specific Ruling
In his decision, Murphy acknowledged concerns raised by Ethiopian TPS holders but concluded that the Supreme Court’s ruling limited the court’s ability to intervene. He allowed one claim to proceed, citing another federal court’s finding that allegations of discriminatory intent could not yet be dismissed.
Ongoing Protections
A smaller number of countries still retain TPS, with renewal decisions pending later this year. The administration has not indicated whether additional terminations are planned.