Immigrant advocacy groups have taken legal action to impede efforts by the U.S. government to terminate temporary legal protections for Ethiopian nationals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Filed in a federal court in Boston, the complaint comes from three individuals from Ethiopia and the non-profit organization African Communities Together. According to the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) recent decision jeopardizes the TPS status of more than 5,000 Ethiopians after February 13.
The plaintiffs contend that despite Ethiopia's ongoing humanitarian emergency, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem rescinded the protective designation with only a 60-day notification period. The suit further alleges that this action is motivated by unlawful animus or discriminatory intent against non-white immigrants, considering the predominantly Black Ethiopian population. DHS has not publicly responded to inquiries regarding the lawsuit.
This case is part of a broader pattern wherein legal proceedings have challenged the Trump administration's moves to reduce deportation protections granted through TPS to nationals of various countries. Federal statutes stipulate that TPS is available to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other exceptional conditions. TPS confers work authorization and temporary protection from deportation to those qualifying.
Several lawsuits address efforts to revoke TPS from migrants originating from Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and South Sudan. These legal challenges have occasionally resulted in court orders that delay or prevent the administration from terminating legal protections.
DHS announced on December 12 that it was ending TPS for Ethiopians, citing improved conditions in Ethiopia and emphasizing TPS's intended temporary nature rather than a pathway to permanent residency. The status had initially been provided by the Biden administration in 2022 in response to conflicts in Ethiopia, particularly the violent confrontation involving the military and allied troops from Eritrea against forces in the northern Tigray region. This conflict was responsible for substantial casualties and displacement.
Although the battle formally concluded in late 2022, ongoing conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region prompted the Biden administration to extend TPS for Ethiopians in mid-2024. The current lawsuit emerged after the DHS removal announcement, reflecting the persistent instability within parts of Ethiopia.