Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Revocation of TPS for South Sudanese Immigrants

Court Issues Administrative Stay

A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily halted the Trump administration's decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of South Sudanese immigrants. On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley granted an emergency request, issuing an administrative stay that blocks the revocation of TPS, which was set to take effect on January 5, 2026.

The ruling means that approximately 232 South Sudanese nationals currently holding TPS and another 73 with pending applications will retain their lawful status, work authorization, and protection from deportation while the case proceeds. Judge Kelley noted that the issues presented were 'legally complex' and carried 'serious, long-term consequences, including the risk of deadly harm' if the termination were allowed to proceed without full judicial review.

Lawsuit Filed by Civil Rights Groups

The temporary injunction stems from a lawsuit filed in late December by four South Sudanese nationals and the non-profit organization African Communities Together (ACT). The plaintiffs argued that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to end TPS was unlawful, violated the TPS statute, and ignored the severe humanitarian conditions still prevalent in South Sudan. The lawsuit also alleged that the termination was motivated by racial discrimination, thereby violating the Fifth Amendment's equal-protection clause.

Trump Administration's Stance on TPS Termination

The Trump administration, through Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, had published a notice on November 5, 2025, announcing the termination of TPS for South Sudan. The administration asserted that South Sudan no longer met the statutory conditions for the designation. A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, criticized the judge's ruling, stating it 'ignored Trump's constitutional and statutory authority' and reiterated that TPS was 'never intended to be a de facto asylum program.'

Background of South Sudanese TPS

The United States initially designated South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status in 2011, following the country's independence and subsequent armed conflict and extraordinary conditions. South Sudan has experienced significant instability, including a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths. The U.S. State Department continues to advise its citizens against travel to South Sudan due to ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.