U.S. Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Ending South Sudanese Deportation Protections

Federal judge rules Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem likely acted unlawfully in terminating Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A U.S. federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections from deportation for South Sudanese nationals living in the United States. The judge concluded that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had likely provided a "pretextual" reason for terminating South Sudan's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation and not disclosed the real motivating factor behind the decision.

Why it matters

The TPS program provides temporary deportation relief and work authorization for immigrants whose home countries have experienced natural disasters, armed conflicts or other extraordinary events. The judge's ruling prevents the Trump administration from stripping this protection from over 230 South Sudanese nationals currently benefiting from TPS in the U.S.

The details

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris ruled that Noem's notice terminating TPS for South Sudan failed to acknowledge the "real reason" for her action, which was that she had adopted a "preordained pattern and practice" of ending TPS designations for all countries. Since taking office, the Department of Homeland Security has moved to end TPS for 11 other countries, including Haiti, Venezuela and Ethiopia.

  • On November 2, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem published a notice terminating TPS for South Sudan.
  • On February 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patti Saris issued the ruling blocking the Trump administration's plan to end deportation protections for South Sudanese nationals.

The players

Patti Saris

A U.S. federal judge in Boston who ruled against the Trump administration's plan to end Temporary Protected Status for South Sudanese immigrants.

Kristi Noem

The Homeland Security Secretary who published a notice in November 2025 terminating Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan, a decision the judge ruled was likely unlawful.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration sought to end deportation protections for South Sudanese nationals, a move blocked by the federal judge's ruling.

African Communities Together

A non-profit organization that joined South Sudanese nationals in suing the Trump administration over the plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status for their home country.

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What they’re saying

“We must not allow the administration to unlawfully strip protections from vulnerable immigrants who are making valuable contributions to our communities.”

— Amaha Kassa, Executive Director, African Communities Together (statenews.net)

What’s next

The judge's ruling prevents the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan while the lawsuit proceeds. A final decision on the legality of terminating the TPS designation is still pending.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over the Trump administration's efforts to roll back deportation relief programs like Temporary Protected Status, which provide a critical safeguard for immigrants whose home countries are in crisis. The judge's ruling is a victory for immigrant advocates seeking to preserve these humanitarian protections.