Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Effort to End Protections for South Sudanese Citizens
A federal court has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudanese nationals residing in the United States. The ruling, issued on Tuesday, prevents the protections from expiring on January 5, as initially sought by the administration.
A U.S. District Court judge in Boston, Massachusetts, Angel Kelley, granted an emergency request in a lawsuit brought forth by South Sudanese citizens and the immigrant rights group, African Communities Together. The lawsuit alleges the Department of Homeland Security acted unlawfully in its effort to strip South Sudanese citizens of TPS, a designation offered to individuals from nations facing extraordinary circumstances that render return unsafe.
Temporary Protected Status, initially granted to South Sudan in 2011 following its independence from Sudan, has been repeatedly renewed due to ongoing conflict, displacement, and regional instability. The status allows eligible individuals to legally work and remain in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
The lawsuit contends that the Trump administration’s move would expose South Sudanese citizens to deportation into what is widely recognized as a severe humanitarian crisis. A notice published on November 5 by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued that South Sudan no longer met the conditions for TPS.
“With the renewed peace in South Sudan, their demonstrated commitment to ensuring the safe reintegration of returning nationals, and improved diplomatic relations, now is the right time to conclude what was always intended to be a temporary designation,” the Secretary stated. This assessment, however, directly contradicts findings from a United Nations panel of experts.
In a report to the UN Security Council in November, the panel asserted that “while the contours of the conflict may be altered, the resulting human suffering has remained unchanged.” The report detailed ongoing conflict, aerial bombardments, flooding, and an influx of refugees from Sudan, contributing to near-record levels of food insecurity and localized famine.
The Trump administration has consistently pursued a stricter immigration policy, increasingly targeting TPS as part of a broader crackdown and mass deportation initiative. Similar efforts to end TPS have been made for nationals from Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua, all of which have faced legal challenges. The administration has also reportedly sought to deport individuals to African countries, even in cases where they have no prior connection.
This case underscores the ongoing legal battles surrounding the administration’s immigration policies and the fate of thousands of individuals seeking refuge from unstable and dangerous conditions in their home countries. The court’s decision provides temporary relief for South Sudanese citizens, but the long-term outcome remains uncertain as the legal proceedings continue.
