Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Wins Court Approval to End TPS for Ethiopians
8/20/2026, 1:22:21 AM
Court Decision Allows Termination of TPS
On August 18, U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Boston lifted the injunction that had blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians. The ruling removes the judicial barrier that had prevented the administration from terminating the protection for roughly 5,000 Ethiopian nationals living in the United States.
Background of Ethiopian TPS Designation
TPS was first granted to Ethiopians in late 2022 by the Biden administration in response to armed conflict in the Tigray region and related humanitarian crises. The designation provided eligible migrants with temporary work authorization and protection from deportation. Extensions were issued in 2024 by then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas because the conflict persisted.
Legal Arguments and Authority Dispute
Plaintiffs argued that the 1990 statute creating TPS assigns the power to extend or terminate the status exclusively to the Attorney General, not to DHS. Recent rulings in similar cases involving migrants from South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia have rejected that statutory argument, and Judge Murphy dismissed it in the Ethiopian case as well.
Data and Scope of TPS Program
- Approximately 5,000 Ethiopians are affected by the termination.
- As of March, the TPS program covered about 1.29 million people from 17 countries.
- The Trump administration has sought to end TPS for at least 13 nationalities, including Venezuela, Nicaragua, South Sudan and Somalia.
Official Statements & Responses
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized that TPS is “just that — TEMPORARY,” and warned that those whose status is cancelled are now in the United States illegally.
- The court allowed the plaintiffs to continue litigating whether the termination was motivated by racial or national-origin animus, a claim that would implicate the Fifth Amendment.
Criticism & Opposition
African Communities Together, an advocacy group for African immigrants, said the ruling endangers lives. The group’s deputy executive director of policy and advocacy, Diana Konaté, warned that the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia puts thousands of Ethiopian residents in the United States at severe risk.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The crisis in Ethiopia is still ongoing, and this decision puts the lives of thousands of Ethiopians living in the US at severe risk,” — Diana Konaté, African Communities Together
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the statutory authority for TPS termination. Plaintiffs maintain that only the Attorney General may act under the 1990 law, while the administration and recent court decisions assert that DHS possesses the requisite authority. The courts have consistently rejected the plaintiffs’ statutory claim, but the issue remains unresolved pending further litigation on alleged animus.
What’s Next
The plaintiffs may pursue additional claims that the termination was driven by animus, potentially leading to an appeal. Future court rulings will determine whether the administration’s action complies with constitutional protections.
