Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Termination of Ethiopia’s Temporary Protected Status

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:38:00 +0200

A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals. The ruling came after a lawsuit challenged the administration's decision, arguing that it violated the TPS statute, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Equal Protection Clause. Judge Brian Murphy, nominated by President Joe Biden in 2024, granted a postponement of the termination, emphasizing that the executive branch must adhere to statutory procedures established by Congress. The judge noted that presidential directives cannot override congressional mandates, underscoring the constitutional principle that the President must faithfully execute laws. Last year, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had announced that Ethiopia’s TPS designation would end on February 13, 2026, but legal challenges prevented the termination from taking effect. DHS defended the administration's action, stating that TPS is meant to be te