TPS for Ethiopia:
Postponement Granted — Case Now Held Pending Supreme Court Ruling
On April 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy granted a formal postponement of the Trump administration’s termination of TPS for Ethiopia — keeping status, work authorization, driver’s licenses, and protection from deportation intact for thousands of Ethiopian TPS holders. DHS has since appealed the ruling to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which on April 20, 2026 held the case in abeyance pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the consolidated Haiti and Syria TPS cases (Miot v. Trump and Dahlia Doe v. Noem). The postponement remains in effect — Ethiopian TPS holders are still protected.
🏆 Postponement granted — April 8, 2026: U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy granted a formal postponement of the termination of TPS for Ethiopia in ACT et al. v. Noem. This is a stronger and more durable protection than the earlier emergency stay — it remains in effect for the full duration of the litigation, unless and until overturned by a contrary court order. Ethiopian TPS holders retain their status, work authorization, driver’s licenses, and protection from deportation.
Case held in abeyance at First Circuit — April 20, 2026: Following the District Court’s April 8 postponement order, DHS appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. On April 20, 2026, the First Circuit held the appeal in abeyance pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the consolidated Haiti and Syria TPS cases (Miot v. Trump and Dahlia Doe v. Noem), in which oral arguments were heard on April 29, 2026. The District Court’s postponement remains in effect during the abeyance — Ethiopian TPS holders are still protected, and work authorization, driver’s licenses, and protection from deportation continue uninterrupted.
Important: This page provides general information about the Ethiopia TPS litigation and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. If you are an Ethiopian TPS holder with questions about your specific situation, please consult a qualified immigration attorney. African Communities Together (ACT) may be able to connect you with legal resources.
“We are celebrating alongside over 5,000 of our neighbors who can finally exhale and get back to their lives,” said Amaha Kassa, Executive Director of African Communities Together (ACT). “This is not the end of our fight. It is just the beginning of a relentless struggle to save TPS.”
- African Communities Together (ACT) — organizational plaintiff
- Three individual Ethiopian TPS holders — filed as a class action
- Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- United States of America
- Ethiopia — terminated January 14, 2026; original expiration February 13, 2026 (postponed by court order — April 8, 2026)
- Approximately 5,000 Ethiopian TPS beneficiaries and applicants
The District Court’s April 8, 2026 postponement of agency action remains in effect. DHS appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. On April 20, 2026, the First Circuit held the appeal in abeyance pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the consolidated Haiti and Syria TPS cases (Miot v. Trump and Dahlia Doe v. Noem), in which oral arguments were heard on April 29, 2026. No ruling has been issued by SCOTUS yet. During the abeyance, Ethiopian TPS holders remain protected by the District Court’s postponement order.
Ethiopia was first designated for TPS in 2022 because of armed conflict and other extraordinary conditions in the country. It has received consistent redesignations ever since due to ongoing gender-based and sexual violence, armed conflict, food insecurity, and arbitrary arrests. The country continues to face active armed conflict across multiple regions, widespread displacement affecting millions, severe food insecurity, and the breakdown of essential infrastructure and services.
This case is part of the Trump administration’s coordinated campaign to eliminate TPS protections for Black, Asian, Arab, and immigrant communities of color — the same pattern seen in terminations for South Sudan, Somalia, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Syria, Cameroon, and Burma. The complaint highlights that the termination was pre-ordained, not based on an objective country conditions review, and reflects the administration’s preference for white immigrants and refugees as evidence of discriminatory intent.
- Declare the termination of TPS for Ethiopia unlawful
- Set aside or vacate the termination of Ethiopia’s TPS designation
- Stop all government agencies and employees from taking steps to implement the termination
The lawsuit challenges the termination of TPS for Ethiopia on two grounds: violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) violations
Constitutional claims
The government’s decision to terminate TPS for Ethiopia ignored the realities of conditions on the ground — a country still experiencing active armed conflict, widespread displacement, food insecurity affecting millions, and the breakdown of essential services. The lawsuit argues the administration’s review was not objective, and that the pattern of terminations targeting non-white, non-European communities demonstrates that race and discriminatory animus — not country conditions — drove the decision.
- Ethiopian TPS holders retain their status, work authorization, and protection from deportation and detention by court order. The April 8 formal postponement remains in effect during the First Circuit’s abeyance — it is in effect for the full duration of the litigation, unless overturned by a contrary court order
- For information on knowing and exercising your rights in encounters with immigration enforcement in the U.S., review the content available at wehaverights.us, prepared by We Have Rights and available in a variety of languages
- Understand that if you leave the U.S. and the termination of TPS for Ethiopia ultimately takes effect, you may not be able to lawfully reenter the U.S. on TPS status, even if a court subsequently reinstates TPS for Ethiopia
- Before considering self-deportation using the CBP Home app, review information about your rights, such as this content from the National Immigration Law Center
For some people, planning ahead for the possibility of immigration enforcement can help to restore a sense of personal agency in the face of uncertainties and risk. This is called “emergency planning.” Even with the court’s postponement in place, it is wise to be prepared — the case is now on appeal and held in abeyance pending the Supreme Court’s ruling in the consolidated Haiti/Syria TPS cases. Further developments are expected.
You can learn more about emergency planning through these resources:
For support with mental-health-related needs during this time of uncertainty, here are some potential resources:
A formal postponement of agency action was granted on April 8, 2026 — a major win for Ethiopian TPS holders — and remains in effect. DHS appealed to the First Circuit, which on April 20 held the case in abeyance pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the consolidated Haiti/Syria TPS cases (oral arguments heard April 29, 2026; ruling pending). Follow ACT and CUSP for the most up-to-date information as the case proceeds.