A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s decision to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for immigrants from South Sudan, allowing hundreds to continue living and working legally in the U.S. while the legality of the decision is reviewed, according to Newsweek.
Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued an order preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from deporting South Sudanese nationals who currently hold or have applied for TPS, which was scheduled to expire on January 6, 2026. Without the order, approximately 300 individuals would have risked losing their legal status and facing deportation.
Judge Blocks TPS Termination Amid Legal Challenge
Judge Kelley noted that the consequences of ending TPS would be “serious and far-reaching”, requiring careful judicial review before any deportation proceedings could occur. She emphasized that affected individuals have built their lives in the U.S. and could face dangerous and unstable conditions if returned to their home country.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations and immigrant advocacy groups against DHS in late December. The lawsuit argued that the administration violated federal administrative law and the Constitution, claiming the decision was motivated by discriminatory intentions targeting non-white, non-European immigrants.
This case is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back or limit immigration programs established or expanded under President Joe Biden, including previous attempts to end TPS for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Venezuela and Haiti, with potential future impacts on immigrants from Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
DHS Criticism and Ongoing TPS Legal Review
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the court ruling, claiming it overstepped executive authority. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLoughlin stated that conditions in South Sudan have improved enough to end TPS, citing stability and reintegration possibilities for returnees.
However, international organizations and UN experts have questioned this assessment, warning of continued instability, worsening security and economic conditions, and a growing food crisis in South Sudan. Advocates argue that ending TPS contradicts official U.S. travel warnings against visiting the country.
The case remains under review, and the temporary stay on deportations remains in effect until a final ruling is issued.