The Trump administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopian nationals, giving about 5,000 people living in the United States 60 days to leave the country or face possible deportation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision Friday, saying conditions in Ethiopia have improved enough that the humanitarian protection is no longer needed. The change takes effect Feb. 13, 2026.
The move is the latest in a series of actions by the administration to wind down TPS designations for multiple countries, a program that allows citizens of nations facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other crises to live and work legally in the U.S.
Ongoing concerns in Ethiopia
The decision comes as the State Department continues to advise Americans to reconsider travel to Ethiopia because of sporadic violence, civil unrest, crime, terrorism and kidnapping risks in several regions.
A current State Department advisory warns that some areas are effectively off-limits and that the U.S. Embassy may not be able to help Americans leave if security worsens. Recent alerts have also noted an ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus.
Administration officials cited progress in Ethiopia, including the 2022 ceasefire that ended major fighting in the Tigray region and a peace agreement reached last month in Oromia. They pointed to better access to health care, improved food security and the return of many displaced people.
The Federal Register notice acknowledged some continuing violence but said it was limited and episodic.
It also referenced national-interest factors, including visa overstay rates among Ethiopians that officials said were more than 250% above the global average, and unspecified security investigations involving some TPS holders.
Broader immigration enforcement push
The termination for Ethiopia is part of a wider effort to reduce temporary immigration protections extended under previous administrations.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has moved to end or review TPS for several countries, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of people in total.
President Donald Trump has made strict immigration enforcement a priority of his second term. A national security strategy document released this month described uncontrolled migration as a threat to Western societies and warned of demographic changes that it said could lead to the erosion of national identity in some European countries.
The administration has also created a new refugee resettlement pathway for white South Africans of Afrikaner descent, citing what it called race-based discrimination against farmers. The South African government and some Afrikaner groups have disputed those claims.
Reaction from analysts and advocates
Immigration advocates and some analysts have criticized the contrasting approaches as evidence of selective enforcement.
Scott Lucas, a professor of U.S. and international politics at University College Dublin, said the policies reveal clear priorities.
“The signal is straightforward,” Lucas said. “Certain applicants with the preferred background are welcomed; others from Africa are sent back, even when risks remain.”
Ethiopian communities in the U.S., particularly in states like Colorado and Minnesota, have reported growing concern. Some beneficiaries are exploring other visa options, while others are preparing to return home.
What happens next?
TPS holders may continue to work legally during the 60-day transition. After the deadline, those without another form of lawful status will be subject to removal.
The Department of Homeland Security is encouraging voluntary departure and offering repatriation flights and a cash incentive for those who leave through official channels and report their exit. Officials warned that people who remain and are arrested could face long-term or permanent bans on returning.
Immigration attorneys said legal challenges are likely. Courts have issued temporary blocks on some recent TPS terminations while lawsuits move forward.
More than one million people from various countries held TPS as of earlier this year, according to immigration research groups. The program has become a flashpoint in the debate over balancing humanitarian needs with enforcement priorities.
