A Massachusetts federal court has issued an administrative stay preventing the imminent termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals residing in the United States. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs temporarily blocks the Trump administration’s planned termination that was scheduled to take effect Tuesday.
The court determined that allowing Somalia’s TPS designation to expire would produce “weighty” consequences, noting that over one thousand individuals would face “a myriad of grave risks” including potential detention, deportation, physical violence if returned to Somalia, and forced separation from family members. The emergency motion was filed by advocates following the administration’s announcement last month during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, which hosts a significant Somali community.
Judge Burroughs’ order specifies that while the stay remains in effect, the termination is “null, void, and of no legal effect.” Somali nationals with TPS status or pending applications will retain their rights, including eligibility for work authorization and protection against deportation and detention.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security criticized the ruling, describing it as another example of judicial obstruction preventing President Trump from “restoring integrity” to the immigration system. In an official statement, DHS asserted that “Temporary means temporary,” arguing that improved conditions in Somalia no longer justify protected status and that allowing Somali nationals to remain contradicts national interests.
Despite the temporary nature of the relief, representatives for the plaintiffs expressed encouragement, stating they are “heartened by the interim protection today’s order affords” while acknowledging that “many battles lie ahead” in the ongoing legal challenge.