Washington: The United States has rescinded temporary legal protections for thousands of Ethiopian nationals, mandating their departure within 60 days or face arrest and deportation. This policy shift is part of the administration's broader efforts to remove legal protections from over a million people across various nations.
According to Nam News Network, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision, stating that conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a significant threat to returning nationals despite ongoing violence in parts of the country. The termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia is set to take effect in early February 2026, leaving current beneficiaries with limited time to either leave voluntarily or secure another legal basis to stay in the United States.
The decision was made despite the State Department's travel advisory for Ethiopia, which advises Americans to reconsider travel due to sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and other risks. The advisory notes that the US embassy may have limited capacity to assist with departures if the security situation worsens.
Federal authorities defended the termination by referring to peace agreements, such as a 2022 ceasefire in Tigray and a 2024 deal in Oromia. However, analysts have warned of potential renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Federal Register notice acknowledged ongoing violence but cited improvements in healthcare, food security, and internal displacement as signs of recovery. Additionally, it mentioned concerns about Ethiopian visa overstay rates and national security investigations involving some TPS holders.
This move is part of a larger pattern under President Donald Trump, who has sought to end protections for nationals from multiple countries, including Haiti and Venezuela, since returning to office. His administration's immigration policies have faced criticism for their racial selectivity, notably opening a refugee resettlement program for white South Africans while terminating protections for Ethiopians.
Legal challenges against several TPS terminations are ongoing, with courts temporarily blocking some decisions. Ethiopian TPS beneficiaries can continue working during the 60-day transition period, but those without alternative legal status post-deadline risk immediate arrest and deportation.