A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration’s effort to end temporary deportation protections for thousands of Ethiopian nationals, marking the latest flashpoint in the ongoing battle over immigration policy and executive authority.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that the administration likely failed to follow the legal framework established by Congress when it sought to terminate Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Ethiopians. His decision ensures that more than 5,000 individuals will remain protected from deportation as the case moves forward through the courts.
In a sharply worded opinion, Murphy emphasized constitutional limits on presidential power, writing that the will of the president does not override laws passed by Congress. He underscored that federal agencies must adhere to statutory requirements, rejecting the idea that executive discretion alone could dictate such decisions.
Murphy, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, also dismissed the administration’s argument that courts lack the authority to review TPS determinations. Instead, he affirmed that the judiciary has a role in ensuring that executive actions comply with the law.
The TPS program, created by Congress in 1990, offers temporary relief to foreign nationals who cannot safely return to their home countries due to war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. Those enrolled are shielded from deportation and may obtain work authorization while the designation remains in place.
Ethiopia was designated for TPS in 2022 amid escalating violence in the Tigray region, adding to a history of ethnic conflict and humanitarian crises. When President Donald Trump began his second term, Ethiopia was one of 17 countries covered under the program.
As part of a broader push to tighten immigration policies, the Department of Homeland Security moved earlier this year to end TPS protections for multiple countries, including Ethiopia. Officials argued that conditions in those nations had improved sufficiently to no longer meet the program’s legal requirements.
However, Murphy found that the administration’s decision regarding Ethiopia may have been flawed. He wrote that DHS failed to properly consult relevant agencies and suggested that the justification for ending protections was not adequately supported by the evidence.
In a pointed remark, the judge cast doubt on the notion that global conditions had improved so dramatically, noting that both the evidence and common sense suggested otherwise.
The ruling drew immediate criticism from DHS, which accused the court of overreach. In a statement, a department spokesperson described the decision as another example of judicial activism interfering with efforts to restore integrity to the immigration system.
The administration maintained that TPS is intended to be temporary by design, arguing that Ethiopia no longer meets the legal threshold due to changing conditions on the ground. Officials also reiterated their position that the executive branch should have broad authority to make such determinations without judicial interference.
The dispute is now on a path toward further legal scrutiny, with related challenges already heading to the Supreme Court. The justices are expected to hear arguments later this month on similar efforts to end TPS protections for Haiti and Syria.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case highlights a familiar tension in Washington: balancing enforcement priorities with humanitarian considerations, all while navigating the constitutional boundaries between the branches of government.
