On December 12, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the United States issued a statement announcing the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians. According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the decision was made by Secretary Kristi Noem after careful consideration of the situation in Ethiopia. TPS is a time-limited status and not a pathway to permanent residency. The current conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the safety of returning Ethiopian nationals, making them ineligible for TPS under statutory requirements. The decision aims to protect the fairness of the U.S. immigration system.
The announcement requires Ethiopian nationals without other legal reasons to stay in the U.S. to voluntarily leave within 60 days. They are encouraged to use the CBP Home Mobile App to declare their departure. This option provides a secure and reliable way for self-removal, including a free plane ticket, a $1000 departure incentive, and potential opportunities for legal immigration in the future.
The announcement also warns that after February 13, 2026, DHS will arrest Ethiopian nationals without legal status, and once deported, they may be permanently barred from returning to the U.S.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian immigration policy established by Congress in 1990 in the United States. When a country faces “armed conflict, extreme natural disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions” that prevent its citizens from safely returning, DHS can designate that country as a TPS country. Qualified foreign nationals can receive protection from deportation, temporary residency, and work authorization.
Ethiopia was first designated as a TPS country by DHS in October 2022, and the designation was extended for 18 months from June 13, 2024, to December 12, 2025.
According to a notice published by USCIS in the Federal Register on December 15, 2025, Ethiopia was initially designated as a temporary protection country at the end of 2022 due to ongoing armed conflicts and special temporary circumstances. The country is divided into 12 ethnic-based states. Conflict in Tigray and Oromia led to the country’s initial TPS designation in 2022.
Review of past circumstances in the country, including internal displacement, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks, indicates that the situation has improved. This improvement allows foreign nationals to safely return to the country and live in areas unaffected by conflict. As of June 2024, 3.3 million internally displaced persons have returned to their places of origin. These developments suggest that the current situation in Ethiopia no longer warrants its designation as a TPS country, as the circumstances that led to the designation no longer impede the safe return of foreign nationals.