US Ends Legal Protections for Ethiopian Refugees
Thousands Ordered to Leave
WASHINGTON — The United States has ended temporary legal protections for approximately 5,000 Ethiopian nationals, ordering them to leave the country within 60 days or face arrest and deportation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Friday that conditions in Ethiopia “no longer pose a serious threat” to returning nationals, despite ongoing violence in some regions.
Part of Broader Crackdown
The decision is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to end protections for more than one million people from multiple countries. Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians will take effect in early February 2026.
The Department of Homeland Security warned that those who resist removal could be permanently barred from returning to the United States.
Options for Affected Refugees
Current beneficiaries have two months to either leave voluntarily or secure another legal basis to remain in the U.S. The government emphasized that voluntary departure could reduce long-term penalties.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE