US Judge Blocks End of Deportation Protections for Ethiopians

Temporary block issued to allow legal challenge to be heard

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:39pm

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A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the U.S. government from ending temporary protections from deportation that had been granted to thousands of Ethiopians living in the United States. The judge said he would issue an order delaying the February 13 effective date of the termination of the temporary protected status in order to provide more time for a legal challenge to be heard.

Why it matters

This ruling provides a temporary reprieve for over 5,000 Ethiopians who were facing the loss of their deportation protections, which could have forced many to return to a country still grappling with political instability and violence. The case highlights the ongoing legal battles over immigration policies under the Trump administration.

The details

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston said he would issue an order delaying the February 13 effective date of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's termination of the temporary protected status granted to over 5,000 Ethiopians. This will allow more time for a legal challenge to the termination to be heard in court.

  • On January 30, 2026, the federal judge issued the temporary block.
  • The original termination of the temporary protected status for Ethiopians was set to take effect on February 13, 2026.

The players

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy

The federal judge in Boston who issued the temporary block on the termination of deportation protections for Ethiopians.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The government agency that had planned to terminate the temporary protected status granted to over 5,000 Ethiopians living in the United States.

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What’s next

The judge will issue a formal order delaying the termination of the temporary protected status for Ethiopians to allow time for a legal challenge to be heard in court.

The takeaway

This temporary block on ending deportation protections for Ethiopians provides a reprieve for thousands of immigrants facing an uncertain future, underscoring the ongoing legal battles over the Trump administration's immigration policies.