Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopians in the U.S.
A federal judge on April 8 blocked the Trump administration’s planned termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians in the U.S., halting a decision that had been scheduled to take effect Feb. 13 at 11:59 p.m. but was enjoined amid litigation. Judge Brian Murphy wrote that DHS terminated Ethiopia’s TPS “without regard for the process delineated by Congress,” framing the dispute in constitutional terms, while DHS criticized the ruling—calling the judge “radical, Biden-appointed”—and said Ethiopia no longer meets TPS criteria and that “temporary means temporary.”
📌 Key Facts
- Federal Judge Brian Murphy issued an April 8 memorandum halting the Trump administration's planned termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians in the U.S.
- Murphy's memorandum says DHS terminated Ethiopia's TPS "without regard for the process delineated by Congress" and frames the dispute in constitutional terms, stating "the will of the President does not supersede that of Congress" and that "presidential whims do not and cannot supplant agencies’ statutory obligations."
- Then–DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had scheduled the TPS termination to take effect Feb. 13 at 11:59 p.m., but that effective date never took effect because of ongoing litigation.
- DHS, in a statement to CBS News quoted by Fox, attacked the ruling as a stay by a "radical, Biden-appointed" judge, insisted "Temporary means temporary," argued Ethiopia no longer meets TPS criteria, and said the Trump administration is "putting Americans first."
- Fox notes that Murphy is a 2024 Biden appointee and frames the decision in partisan terms that are already being echoed in administration talking points.
- Fox did not provide updated figures on how many Ethiopians are covered by TPS and reported that the White House and DHS had not commented directly to Fox, instead issuing their talking-point defense via a statement to another outlet.
📊 Relevant Data
Ethiopia was designated for Temporary Protected Status in December 2022 due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary temporary conditions, with the designation initially set for 18 months.
DHS Secretary Designates Ethiopia for TPS — E-Verify
Approximately 250,000 Ethiopians migrate internationally every year in the 2020s, driven by factors including economic development, social transformation, and a shift away from traditional education-focused life paths.
250000 Ethiopians migrate every year: what drives them and what needs to change — The Conversation
In 2023, Ethiopian immigrants in the United States had higher educational credentials compared to those in Israel, but this did not translate to higher relative wages, with factors such as labor market structures potentially influencing outcomes.
Country context, race and wages: A comparative analysis of Ethiopian immigrants in the United States and Israel — Wiley Online Library
As of 2024-2025 data, foreign-born White workers in the U.S. earned 16.4 percent more than their native-born counterparts, while earnings disparities exist across racial groups among foreign-born workers.
Foreign-Born Workers: Labor Force Characteristics - 2024 — Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. median household income varied by race from 2020 to 2024, with Asian households at $106,594, White at $82,827, Hispanic at $65,828, and Black at $53,986.
How Income Varies by Race and Geography — U.S. Census Bureau
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The Fox article quotes extensively from Judge Brian Murphy’s April 8 memorandum, emphasizing his finding that DHS terminated Ethiopia’s TPS designation 'without regard for the process delineated by Congress.'
- Murphy’s order frames the dispute in strong constitutional terms, stating that 'the will of the President does not supersede that of Congress' and that 'presidential whims do not and cannot supplant agencies’ statutory obligations.'
- The piece notes that then–DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had scheduled TPS termination for Feb. 13 at 11:59 p.m., but that effective date never took effect because of ongoing litigation.
- DHS, in a statement to CBS News quoted here, attacks the ruling as a stay by a 'radical, Biden-appointed' judge and insists 'Temporary means temporary,' claiming Ethiopia no longer meets TPS criteria and that the Trump administration 'is putting Americans first.'
- The article reminds readers that Murphy is a Biden appointee from 2024, setting up partisan framing that is already being echoed in administration talking points.
- Fox adds no new data on how many Ethiopians are covered but underscores that the White House and DHS have not yet commented directly to Fox while providing their talking-point defense via a statement to another outlet.