Trump’s TPS Cut Rocks 5,000 Ethiopian Immigrants in the US

Sun Sep 06 2026 11:26:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A federal judge clears the way for Trump to strip safe‑harbor for Ethiopian migrants – what it means for families, policy and human rights.

A judge lifted a stay that held up the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 5,000 Ethiopians living in the US. DHS tweeted that those who lose TPS are “ILLEGAL” and must leave or face deportation. The ruling echoes a Supreme Court decision that ended TPS for Haitians and Syrians, and follows Trump’s broader push to cancel TPS for more countries. Ethiopia had received TPS under the Biden administration amid the Tigray war, giving millions displaced people temporary work rights and protection from deportation. The move has been criticized by advocacy groups concerned about ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the rights of those in the US. The decision raises questions about the intersection of immigration policy, human rights and international crisis.

A federal judge has cleared the way for the Trump administration to cut Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 5,000 Ethiopian migrants living in the United States.

TPS is a temporary visa that protects people fleeing war, famine or natural disasters. When Trump’s team decided it was “safe” to end the program for Ethiopia, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) replied on X (formerly Twitter): "Those with terminated TPS are ILLEGALLY in our nation. They have two options: LEAVE IMMEDIATELY or be DEPORTED."

The judge’s ruling lifted a blocker that had kept the administration from ending TPS for Ethiopians. This move follows a Supreme Court decision in June that also ended TPS for several thousand Haitians and Syrians.

Under the Biden administration, Ethiopia was granted TPS at the end of 2022 because of the Tigray war – a conflict that displaced more than 20,000 people and sends millions at risk in 2026. Those granted TPS could stay in the U.S., work legally and were protected from deportation until conditions improved.

The latest decision is part of a broader Trump plan to roll back TPS for many more countries. While DHS’s chief legal officer celebrated the change, advocacy groups like African Communities Together said the ruling “creates fresh dangers” for Ethiopians abroad. They warn that the crisis in Ethiopia is still ongoing, leaving millions in peril.

The judge also admitted that the plaintiffs can continue to challenge the decision on grounds of racial animus, which would violate the U.S. Constitution. The legal battle now focuses on whether the policy shift was unfairly targeted.

In short: 5,000 Ethiopian families in the U.S. may now leave and face deportation, but they will still fight for recognition of their rights. The story underscores how immigration policy intersects with global conflict and the human cost of politicized Borders.