Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia is currently in legal limbo. The federal government moved to end the program effective February 13, 2026, but on January 30, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts blocked that termination. Ethiopian TPS holders keep their status and work authorization while the litigation continues, and Employment Authorization Documents have been extended through July 1, 2026.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Update on Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia
Where Ethiopian TPS Stands Right Now
Ethiopia was first designated for TPS on December 12, 2022, based on armed conflict and civil unrest.2Federal Register. Designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status In April 2024, DHS extended and redesignated the country for another 18 months, through December 12, 2025.3Federal Register. Extension and Redesignation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status On December 15, 2025, the government published a termination notice that would have ended the designation on February 13, 2026.4Federal Register. Termination of the Designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status
Before that date arrived, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order staying the termination in African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al., No. 26-cv-10278. Under that order, Ethiopian TPS beneficiaries keep their status and employment authorization, and EADs are currently extended through July 1, 2026.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Update on Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia
The important thing to understand is that the program is alive only because of a court order, not because the government chose to continue it. If the court lifts the stay or rules against the plaintiffs, termination could take effect on short notice. Every USCIS update on the Ethiopia TPS page should be treated as potentially time-sensitive.
Can You Still Apply for Ethiopian TPS?
No new applications are being accepted. The initial registration window under the April 2024 redesignation ran from April 15, 2024, through December 12, 2025.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Ethiopia Because the government has moved to terminate the designation, no new registration period has opened. The court order preserves status for existing beneficiaries, but it does not create a new filing opportunity. If you did not register while the window was open, you cannot file an initial application right now.
There is also no active re-registration period as of mid-2026. In the past, every extension of Ethiopia’s designation has come with a re-registration window announced through the Federal Register, and existing holders had to file within it to keep their status. The current situation is different because it rests on a court-ordered stay rather than a traditional extension. USCIS has not opened a new filing window. Do not assume your status renews automatically. If a re-registration period does open, file early rather than waiting until the deadline.
Who Qualified Under the Redesignation
Existing beneficiaries qualified as Ethiopian nationals, or as people without nationality who last habitually resided in Ethiopia, who met two dated requirements. Continuous residence in the United States had to be shown from at least April 11, 2024, meaning the U.S. was your actual home from that date forward.3Federal Register. Extension and Redesignation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status Continuous physical presence was measured from June 13, 2024, the effective date of the redesignation, with an exception for brief, innocent absences.6eCFR. 8 CFR 244.1 – Definitions
The standard TPS bars still apply to anyone who was approved. A conviction for a felony, or for two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States, disqualifies a TPS holder, and there is no discretionary waiver for that bar.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1254a – Temporary Protected Status The mandatory asylum bars also apply, including participation in the persecution of others, particularly serious crimes, and terrorism-related grounds.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1158 – Asylum A conviction picked up after you were approved can put your status at risk on renewal.
Working Legally Right Now
Ethiopian TPS holders should have an Employment Authorization Document with a category code of A12 (granted TPS) or C19 (initial applicant with a pending case). Under the current court order, EADs with either code are treated as valid and are extended through July 1, 2026.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Update on Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia
If the expiration date printed on your card has already passed, the card is still usable as proof of work authorization during the court-ordered extension. Present it together with any related USCIS notices to satisfy Form I-9 requirements. Employers do not always understand that a facially expired TPS card can remain valid, so it helps to direct them to the official USCIS Ethiopia TPS page for confirmation. If your employer still refuses to accept the extended card, that USCIS notice is the document to point to.
One structural change matters for planning. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), signed on July 4, 2025, initial and renewal TPS EADs are capped at a maximum validity of one year or the remaining duration of the designation, whichever is shorter, and automatic extensions on renewal filings submitted on or after July 22, 2025, are capped at 365 days.9Congress.gov. Text – H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026) That means shorter cards and less cushion when a renewal is delayed.
Traveling Outside the United States
Leaving the country without authorization is one of the fastest ways to lose TPS. Before any trip abroad, file Form I-131 and wait to receive either a Form I-512T (TPS travel authorization) if your TPS has been approved, or a Form I-512L (advance parole document) if your initial application is still pending.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records Do not depart until the document is in your hand.
Even with the right document, re-entry is not guaranteed. A Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry decides whether to admit or parole you, and anyone with prior unlawful presence or a removal order can be found inadmissible when they try to come back. There is one meaningful protection: under the Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, travel on TPS authorization is not treated as a “departure” that would trigger the three-year or ten-year unlawful presence bars, and USCIS applies the same analysis to TPS holders using valid TPS travel documents.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Travel Documents Given the volatile status of the designation, any trip abroad right now carries added risk. If you go, make sure someone at home is checking your mail and can reach you quickly.
What Happens if the Court Stay Is Lifted
If the stay is lifted and termination takes effect, Ethiopian TPS holders would lose both protected status and work authorization. You would revert to whatever immigration status you held before TPS, or to no status at all if TPS was your only basis for remaining in the country. That opens the door to removal proceedings.
The government has historically provided a wind-down period when it terminates TPS for a country. The December 2025 termination notice set a window of roughly two months before the February 13, 2026 effective date.4Federal Register. Termination of the Designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status Whether a future wind-down would follow the same pattern is not something the record answers.
If you have any other possible path, now is the time to look at it. Asylum, adjustment of status through a qualifying family member, or another form of relief may be available depending on your circumstances. Speaking with an immigration attorney while you still have valid status and work authorization gives you the widest set of options; waiting until after termination narrows them.
Where to Watch for Updates
The USCIS page on Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia is the official source for changes to the court-ordered extension, EAD validity dates, and any new re-registration or filing windows.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Ethiopia Because the current situation can change with a single court ruling, check it regularly rather than assuming the terms you knew last month still apply.