Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Lawsuit Challenges Ending Ethiopians' Temporary Legal Status
Some people from Ethiopia living in the U.S. have a special status called TPS that protects them from being sent back to Ethiopia because it's not safe there.
The U.S. government decided to end this protection, but some Ethiopians and a group called African Communities Together don't agree.
They think the government made this decision unfairly and quickly, and they're suing to keep the protection.
There are similar lawsuits for people from other countries.
The U.S. government says conditions in Ethiopia are better now, but the people suing say there's still a conflict in a region called Amhara.
A lawsuit was filed in Boston federal court challenging the Trump administration's decision to end temporary protected status (TPS) for Ethiopians.
The plaintiffs allege that the termination of TPS is unlawful and puts over 5,000 people at risk of deportation.
The lawsuit claims that the decision was made with just 60 days' notice and based on unconstitutional animus against non-white immigrants.
The Trump administration ended TPS for Ethiopia on December 12, citing improved conditions in the country.
The Biden administration had granted TPS to Ethiopians in 2022 due to armed conflict in the Tigray region, and extended it in mid-2024 due to ongoing conflict in the Amhara region.
- Who
- Three Ethiopian nationals and the non-profit African Communities Together
- What
- A lawsuit challenging the end of temporary protected status (TPS) for Ethiopians
- When
- The lawsuit was filed on January 23, with TPS ending on February 13
- Where
- The lawsuit was filed in Boston federal court
- Why
- The plaintiffs allege that the termination of TPS is unlawful and puts over 5,000 people at risk of deportation
- Number of Ethiopians affected
- Over 5,000
- Date TPS ends
- February 13
- Date lawsuit filed
- January 23
- Countries with similar lawsuits
- Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, South Sudan
- Current Ethiopian conflict region
- Amhara
- Previous Ethiopian conflict region
- Tigray
- Date TPS for Ethiopia ended
- December 12
- Date Ethiopians granted TPS
- 2022