A federal court has stalled an effort to withdraw legal protections from more than 5,000 Ethiopian nationals living in the United States, ruling that the move failed to follow the law governing temporary humanitarian safeguards.
The decision came from a Boston-based district judge, who concluded that authorities acted on a predetermined course when attempting to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians. The ruling halts the termination plan and keeps in place work authorization and protection from deportation for those affected.
TPS is designed as a short-term shield for people from countries facing armed conflict, disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. The judge found that conditions in Ethiopia — marked by ongoing violence and humanitarian challenges — still warranted consideration under the statute. He also emphasized that agencies must rely on evidence and procedures set by Congress, not policy preferences.
According to the ruling, directives issued after the change in administration appeared to steer officials toward narrowing or ending protections, rather than conducting a genuine review of conditions abroad. The court described the reasoning for ending the designation as “pretextual,” suggesting the justification offered did not match the underlying decision-making.
The opinion underscored a constitutional principle: executive authority does not override statutory duties. Agencies, the court noted, must operate within the framework established by lawmakers, even when carrying out policy priorities.
Government officials criticized the ruling, arguing it interferes with efforts to reshape immigration policies and ensure that temporary programs do not evolve into long-term residency pathways.
The dispute stems from protections first granted in 2022 amid escalating conflict and humanitarian concerns in Ethiopia. The status was later extended, but officials announced plans to terminate it after determining that conditions had improved. Opponents of the move challenged that conclusion, pointing to continued instability in several regions.
Three Ethiopian nationals, joined by an advocacy organization, brought the case, arguing that the termination ignored ongoing risks and was driven by improper considerations. The court had earlier issued a temporary hold to prevent the protections from expiring while reviewing the dispute.
The ruling arrives as a broader legal battle looms. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments later this month on whether similar protections can be withdrawn from hundreds of thousands of migrants from other countries, a decision that could shape the future of TPS nationwide.
