Judicial Setback for Trump: Judge Temporarily Halts Termination of TPS for South Sudanese Citizens

A federal judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump's administration's plan to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudanese citizens residing in the United States. This decision prevents hundreds of beneficiaries from facing deportation in January 2026, according to Reuters.

District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston, Massachusetts, granted an emergency request filed by several South Sudanese individuals and an immigrant advocacy group to prevent the expiration of TPS.

The termination of the program was initially scheduled for January 6, 2026. On that date, around 300 South Sudanese citizens living and working legally under TPS—or with pending applications—would have become eligible for deportation, as reported.

Kelley issued an administrative stay that pauses the policy while litigation is ongoing. In her order, she warned that allowing the decision to proceed before a thorough court review would have an immediate impact by stripping beneficiaries of their legal status, potentially leading to imminent deportations.

She also emphasized that the consequences are "significant and far-reaching," necessitating careful examination of the case's merits.

The lawsuit was filed by four South Sudanese migrants alongside the nonprofit organization African Communities Together. They argued that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) move was unlawful and would put them at risk of returning to a country facing multiple humanitarian crises.

Government's Argument and DHS Response

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin criticized the judicial decision, claiming that the ruling disregards the constitutional and statutory authority of the president. She further asserted that TPS for South Sudan "was never meant to serve as a de facto asylum program."

In another statement, McLaughlin stated—without providing evidence—that there is "renewed peace" in South Sudan, and that "now is the appropriate time" to conclude a designation that was always intended to be temporary.

Reuters notes that South Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since its independence in 2011. Although the civil war officially ended in 2018, fighting has persisted in many parts of the country, with the conflict reportedly resulting in around 400,000 deaths. Additionally, the U.S. State Department advises American citizens against traveling there.

This ruling represents a temporary victory for immigrant advocates and a setback for the Trump administration's broader effort to restrict humanitarian programs. It is part of a series of challenges against similar measures aimed at removing protections for citizens from other countries, including Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua.