Reuters and Bloomberg Law reported that a federal judge cleared the way for the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status for Somalia. The change may affect 1,082 approved beneficiaries by ending TPS-based permission to work and remain in the United States.
Key Facts
- Judge Allison D. Burroughs lifted the administrative stay on August 14, according to Reuters and Bloomberg Law.
- DHS estimated that 1,082 people held approved Somalia TPS as of December 8, 2025.
- The ruling concerns temporary protection during the lawsuit and is not a final judgment resolving the case.
- A plaintiffs-aligned coalition says the challengers appealed and continue pursuing their constitutional claim.
What the ruling changes
Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, lets eligible people from designated countries remain and work in the United States for a limited period. It does not itself provide permanent residence or another lasting immigration status.
DHS announced in January that Somalia’s designation would end on March 17. A March court order paused that deadline while the challenge proceeded.
The August 14 ruling removed that interim barrier, according to Reuters, Bloomberg Law and Communities United for Status and Protection. DHS may therefore implement the termination while litigation continues.
The practical effect can differ by person. DHS states that former beneficiaries return to any still-valid immigration status they held before or obtained during TPS.
What each side argues
The plaintiffs include African Communities Together, the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans and four Somali TPS holders. Their complaint alleges that the termination was unlawful and intentionally discriminatory based on race or national origin.
The complaint also alleges risks involving employment, family separation and safety if beneficiaries lose protection. Those assertions remain allegations rather than final judicial findings.
DHS said it reviewed country conditions and consulted other government agencies before deciding Somalia no longer met the statutory requirements. The agency acknowledged continuing challenges but cited improved governance and security conditions.
What the court did not decide
The ruling addressed whether protection should remain in place during the case. It did not finally decide every claim or determine that discrimination did not occur.
Bloomberg Law reported that Burroughs found the challengers unlikely to succeed on their unconstitutional racial-animus claim at this stage. Communities United for Status and Protection says the plaintiffs appealed and continue to pursue that constitutional claim.
DHS separately reported 1,383 pending Somalia TPS applications as of December 8, 2025. That group is distinct from the 1,082 people DHS counted as approved beneficiaries.
Sources
- Reuters: U.S. judge clears way for Trump to end Somalis’ deportation protections
- Bloomberg Law: Somalian Migrants Lose TPS Protections After New Court Order
- DHS: Termination of the Designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status
- Complaint: African Communities Together v. Noem
- Communities United for Status and Protection: Somalia TPS case update
