Judge lifts block on ending Somali Temporary Protected Status in US

Key Points:

• A federal judge ruled that the U.S. government can end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis, lifting a previous order that had paused the Trump administration’s plan to terminate TPS for this group.
• Judge Allison Burroughs acknowledged potential irreparable harm to Somalis but found that the plaintiffs did not show a likelihood of success on the merits, allowing the government to proceed with ending TPS while the case continues.
• The Trump administration had announced in January that Somali TPS would end in March, citing improved conditions in Somalia, despite ongoing U.S. State Department travel warnings highlighting significant security and human rights concerns.
• Approximately 700 Somali nationals currently hold TPS in the U.S., and this ruling places them at risk of arrest, deportation, and loss of work authorization, though some may have alternative pathways to legal status.
• Immigration experts suggest the ruling affirms the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to end TPS but do not expect immediate mass deportations, with enforcement likely focusing initially on individuals with criminal records.