The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals living in the United States, a move that reflects a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Ethiopia and underscores evolving assessments of security and political risk in the Horn of Africa.
In a statement this week, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that Ethiopia no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS under U.S. immigration law, asserting that conditions in the country have improved sufficiently and no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning nationals. DHS officials stressed that TPS was always meant to be temporary and not a pathway to permanent residency.
“Temporary Protected Status designations are time-limited and were never meant to be a ticket to permanent residency,” a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesperson said. “Conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals.”
What TPS Termination Means in Practice
Under the DHS announcement, Ethiopian nationals who lack an alternative lawful status within the United States will have 60 days to voluntarily depart the country. DHS is encouraging affected individuals to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Home mobile app to report their departure — a process the agency promotes as secure and efficient. The department’s notice also mentioned incentives such as a complimentary plane ticket and an “exit bonus,” although the specifics of such programs have drawn skepticism from immigrant rights advocates.
After February 13, 2026, DHS may begin arresting and deporting any Ethiopian national whose TPS designation has ended and who does not hold another valid immigration status. Forced removal, the agency warns, could bar reentry to the United States in the future.
Ethiopia Deemed “Safe for Return” by the U.S. Government
The decision to terminate TPS hinges on Washington’s conclusion that Ethiopia has “improved security” relative to the conditions that originally justified its TPS designation. This decision signals that the U.S. government no longer officially considers Ethiopia an unsafe place for return.
The move comes after a period of declining large-scale conflict within Ethiopia, particularly following the cessation of hostilities in the country’s northern Tigray region and subsequent security developments. However, human rights groups and diaspora advocates have expressed concern that localized tensions, political repression, and ongoing instability in some regions still pose dangers to returnees.
U.S.–Ethiopia Relations and Regional Security Cooperation
Experts see the TPS termination not merely as a legal determination but as part of a broader recalibration of U.S.–Ethiopia relations under the Trump administration. In recent months, Washington and Addis Ababa have engaged in renewed agreements on regional security cooperation and human rights dialogue, reflecting shared strategic interests in counterterrorism and migration management.
Ethiopia’s geopolitical significance has become increasingly pronounced, especially as neighboring countries confront deepening crises:
- Sudan remains engulfed in a protracted civil conflict that has displaced millions and destabilized the region.
- Somalia continues to battle insurgency and political fragmentation amidst persistent humanitarian needs.
- South Sudan struggles with governance challenges and chronic insecurity following years of civil war.
In this context, Ethiopia — Africa’s second-most populous nation and a major diplomatic actor — occupies a central position in U.S. strategic calculations across the Horn of Africa.
Critics Voice Concern Over Premature Assessment
While the U.S. government frames the move as a data-driven assessment of changing conditions on the ground, critics argue that many Ethiopians still face political uncertainty, human rights violations, and economic hardship that could make return unsafe for some. Diaspora organizations have already signaled intentions to challenge the decision through legal and advocacy channels.
“These determinations should reflect the lived realities of ordinary people, not strategic politics,” one diaspora activist said, arguing that conditions remain precarious in several parts of the country.
Implications for the Diaspora and Immigration Policy
The termination of TPS for Ethiopia adds to a broader pattern in U.S. immigration policy in which temporary protections granted during periods of crisis are rolled back as situations evolve. For the thousands of Ethiopian nationals who came to the United States under TPS, the announcement injects new uncertainty into their legal and personal futures.
Observers note that the decision now places greater emphasis on alternative immigration pathways and humanitarian programs that remain available for Ethiopians in the diaspora — even as the legal consequences of overstaying TPS loom large for many.
