U.S. Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration Move to End Deportation Protections for South Sudanese Nationals

Boston | United States: A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration’s plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of South Sudanese nationals living in the United States, halting deportations that could have taken effect early next year.

U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley, based in Boston, granted an emergency request filed by several South Sudanese migrants and an immigrant rights organization, issuing an administrative stay that prevents the TPS designation from expiring as scheduled after January 5. The ruling temporarily voids the policy while the court considers the merits of the legal challenge.

Lawsuit and Legal Arguments

The lawsuit was brought by four South Sudanese nationals alongside African Communities Together, a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group. The plaintiffs argue that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acted unlawfully in ending TPS for South Sudan, exposing beneficiaries to deportation to a country still engulfed in severe humanitarian and security crises.

In her order, Judge Kelley warned that allowing the policy to take effect before judicial review would have immediate and irreversible consequences.

“Allowing the termination to proceed would result in an immediate impact on South Sudanese nationals, stripping current beneficiaries of lawful status, which could imminently result in their deportation,” she wrote.

Judge Kelley was appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden.

Government’s Position

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the ruling. However, DHS has previously defended its decision, stating that conditions in South Sudan had improved sufficiently to justify ending TPS.

A DHS spokesperson earlier cited what the department described as “renewed peace in South Sudan, a demonstrated commitment by the government to reintegrate returning nationals safely, and improved diplomatic relations with the United States.”

Ongoing Crisis in South Sudan

Human rights groups and the plaintiffs strongly dispute that assessment. South Sudan has been plagued by violence since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Although a five-year civil war formally ended in 2018, the conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people, and fighting continues in several parts of the country.

The U.S. State Department currently advises American citizens not to travel to South Sudan due to ongoing armed conflict, political instability, and widespread human rights abuses.

Background on Temporary Protected Status

The United States first designated South Sudan for TPS in 2011, shortly after the country became independent. TPS is a humanitarian program that grants eligible foreign nationals temporary protection from deportation and authorization to work in the United States when their home countries face armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

According to the lawsuit, approximately 232 South Sudanese nationals currently hold TPS, with an additional 73 applicants awaiting decisions.

Allegations of Discrimination

Beyond humanitarian concerns, the lawsuit also alleges that DHS violated the statute governing the TPS program and ignored overwhelming evidence of ongoing danger in South Sudan. The plaintiffs further argue that the termination was motivated by racial discrimination, claiming it violates the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law.

Part of a Broader Policy Shift

The termination notice was formally issued on November 5 by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who declared that South Sudan no longer met the legal criteria for TPS designation.

The Trump administration has also moved to end TPS protections for nationals from several other countries, including Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua, triggering multiple lawsuits across the United States.

What Comes Next

The administrative stay will remain in effect while the case proceeds through the courts. Legal experts say the outcome could have broader implications for the future of TPS designations and U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration.

For now, South Sudanese TPS beneficiaries will be allowed to remain in the United States and continue working legally as the legal battle unfolds.