Admin I Friday, Dec.12, 25
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on Friday that the United States will terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Ethiopia, signaling a significant shift in the administration’s approach to humanitarian relief programs.
The decision will force thousands of Ethiopian nationals currently living in the U.S. to either find an alternative legal path to residency or leave the country by early next year.
Accompanying the announcement, a spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) emphasized that the program was always intended to be a short-term solution for those fleeing conflict or natural disasters.
“Temporary Protected Status designations are time-limited and were never meant to be a ticket to permanent residency,” the spokesperson said. “Conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals.”
The administration framed the move as a necessary step to “restore integrity” to the immigration system, asserting that Ethiopia no longer meets the statutory requirements that originally triggered the humanitarian protections.
In an unusual move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a suite of incentives to encourage Ethiopian nationals to leave voluntarily. Authorities are directing individuals to the CBP One Mobile App to report their departure.
Those who choose to “self-deport” within the designated 60-day window are eligible for:
A complimentary plane ticket to Ethiopia.
A $1,000 “exit bonus” to assist with reintegration.
The preservation of potential future opportunities for legal immigration to the United States.
The grace period for voluntary departure is brief. The DHS clarified that after Feb. 13, 2026, the agency will move into an enforcement phase.
Officials warned that those who remain in the U.S. without legal status after the deadline face arrest and formal removal. Furthermore, the administration took a hardline stance on forced deportations: individuals who are forcibly removed by DHS may be subject to a permanent ban on re-entering the United States.
The decision is expected to draw scrutiny from human rights advocates and members of the Ethiopian diaspora, who have previously argued that the regional instabilities and ethnic tensions in Ethiopia remain too volatile for a safe return.
