Sankofaonline
The Ethiopian community across the United States received a welcome boost this week as a federal court decision temporarily preserves Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia. This important development offers continued stability for thousands of Ethiopians who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization while conditions in their home country remain under review.
This announcement replaces the earlier update issued on March 12, 2026.
Ethiopia’s TPS designation had been scheduled to end on February 13, 2026, following a determination by the Department of Homeland Security that the country no longer met the criteria for TPS. However, on January 30, 2026, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued a stay in the case African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al., effectively pausing the termination while the lawsuit proceeds.
This ruling means TPS holders from Ethiopia can continue to live and work in the United States while the court reviews the challenge—a significant relief for families, workers, and community organizations who had been bracing for uncertainty.
Extended Work Authorization: What TPS Holders and Employers Should Know
As part of the court’s order, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under Ethiopia’s TPS designation—originally set to expire on June 12, 2024, and December 12, 2025—are now automatically extended.
To ensure proper documentation:
- Employees completing Form I‑9 should write “as per court order” in the expiration date field in Section 1.
- Employers should enter April 13, 2026 in Section 2 and note the court order in the Additional Information box.
- When using E‑Verify, employers should also enter April 13, 2026 as the expiration date.
USCIS encourages both workers and employers to regularly visit the official TPS Ethiopia webpage for updates. Community members can also subscribe to GovDelivery alerts for the latest information on Form I‑9 and E‑Verify requirements.
This court decision represents a meaningful moment of reassurance for Ethiopian TPS holders, many of whom have built strong roots in their communities while contributing to the U.S. workforce. SankofaOnline will continue to monitor developments closely and share updates as they become available.
