US District Judge Brian Murphy on August 18 lifted a stay blocking the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 5,000 Ethiopian nationals, permitting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end their deportation protections [1, 2, 3].

TPS is a federal program that grants temporary work authorization and protection from deportation to nationals of countries experiencing conflict or disasters [3]. Ethiopia was designated for TPS on December 12, 2022, due to armed conflict and severe climate shocks [3].

The Trump administration sought to end TPS for multiple nationalities, including Ethiopians, as part of an immigration restriction effort in its second term [1, 3]. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin terminated Ethiopia's TPS designation in December 2025, setting the termination effective date as February 13, 2026 [2, 3].

After a Massachusetts judge issued a stay on January 30, 2026, blocking the termination, the US Supreme Court ruled in June 2026 that courts have limited power to review DHS decisions on TPS terminations, clearing the way for Murphy's ruling [1, 3].

DHS General Counsel James Percival stated, "Judge Brian Murphy just lifted the stay of Ethiopia TPS termination. All TPS terminations are in effect!" [1]. DHS Secretary Mullin warned Ethiopians affected by the ruling that "Temporary Protected Status is just that — temporary. Those with terminated TPS should leave NOW. If they don’t, we will DEPORT them" and further said individuals whose status has expired "are now in the country illegally. They have two choices: leave immediately or be swiftly deported" [2, 3].

Plaintiffs have challenged the TPS termination alleging racial and national-origin discrimination violating the Fifth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Judge Murphy allowed that case to proceed separately [3].

As of March 2026, about 1.29 million people hold TPS across 17 countries, with 13 nationalities targeted for termination by the Trump administration [1].

The termination of TPS for Ethiopians will take effect on February 13, 2026, as ordered by DHS last December [2, 3].