On December 12, 2025, the Trump administration officially terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals, a designation that had allowed individuals from Ethiopia to live and work in the United States due to unsafe conditions in their home country. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the safety of returning nationals, leading to this decision.

TPS for Ethiopia was initially granted by the Biden administration in 2022 in response to ongoing armed conflict, and it was extended in 2024 by then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who cited extraordinary conditions preventing safe return. However, with the expiration of this status on December 12, 2025, over 4,500 Ethiopian nationals in the U.S. now face a deportation deadline of February 13, 2026.

The Trump administration has previously revoked TPS for nationals from other countries, including Burma and Haiti, and has declined to renew protections for individuals from nations facing crises such as Venezuela, Syria, and Afghanistan. These actions have resulted in numerous legal challenges, with federal judges occasionally pausing the termination of TPS for vulnerable populations.

In an effort to facilitate self-deportation, Secretary Kristi Noem encouraged Ethiopian nationals to utilize a mobile app developed by the Trump administration, which offers a free flight to any foreign country and a $1,000 exit bonus. This initiative aims to promote voluntary departure, although it raises questions about the implications for family unity and the rights of immigrants seeking refuge from conflict and instability.