Keypoints:
- The US has ended Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopian nationals, effective 12 December 2025
- Work permits tied to TPS remain valid until 13 February 2026
- The decision reflects a wider Trump administration rollback of humanitarian protections
THE United States has formally ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals, a move that will strip thousands of migrants of legal protection and work authorisation in the coming months, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In a notice published on December 12 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the administration had determined that conditions in Ethiopia no longer justified the continuation of the humanitarian programme. The decision aligns with a broader tightening of US immigration policy under President Donald Trump.
Protection to expire after transition period
Temporary Protected Status allows nationals of designated countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to remain and work legally in the United States for limited periods.
Ethiopia was first designated for TPS in December 2022, following escalating conflict and political instability. The protection was later extended, allowing Ethiopian nationals already in the US to live and work without fear of deportation.
Under the new decision, TPS for Ethiopians will expire immediately, with a short transition window provided. Employment authorisation documents linked to the designation will remain valid until February 13 2026, after which affected individuals will be expected to leave the country or secure alternative lawful status.
US officials estimate that more than 4,000 Ethiopians are currently covered by the programme.
Part of wider immigration rollback
The termination of TPS for Ethiopians is part of a broader rollback of humanitarian immigration protections. In recent months, the administration has ended or announced plans to end TPS designations for nationals of Haiti, Venezuela, Syria, Myanmar and South Sudan, among others.
The Department of Homeland Security has also moved to halt processing of long-standing family reunification parole programmes, signalling a sharper enforcement-first approach to immigration control.
Secretary Noem said the administration was acting in line with US law, arguing that TPS is meant to be temporary and should end once conditions improve in a designated country.
Concerns over humanitarian impact
Immigrant rights groups and legal advocates have criticised the move, warning that many Ethiopians affected by the decision have lived in the US for years, built families, and integrated into local economies.
They argue that returning individuals to Ethiopia could expose them to insecurity, political repression or economic hardship, particularly given ongoing tensions in parts of the country.
Legal challenges to the broader dismantling of TPS protections are ongoing in US courts, though no immediate injunction has been announced in relation to the Ethiopian designation.
What affected Ethiopians can do
DHS has urged Ethiopians previously covered by TPS to seek legal advice and explore other immigration pathways, including asylum, family-based petitions or employment-linked visas, where eligible.
Those who remain in the US without lawful status after the transition period could face arrest and deportation, according to the notice.
The department said it would publish additional guidance on compliance and enforcement timelines in the coming weeks.
