A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudanese immigrants. U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris ruled that the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) actions were unlawful when it tried to terminate South Sudan’s TPS designation.
When DHS tried to end TPS, the civil rights group African Communities Together (ACT) brought a lawsuit to stop the action.
On Nov. 6, 2025, DHS announced that TPS for South Sudan would end on Jan. 5, 2026. “After reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. Government agencies,” the notice said, “the Secretary determined that South Sudan no longer continues to meet the conditions for the designation for Temporary Protected Status.”
Despite the then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s contention that South Sudan was becoming safer, that idea was challenged as recently as this week when the Associated Press reported that the UN Mission in South Sudan is facing worsening humanitarian conditions and more fighting between government forces and fighters for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition.
Judge Saris ruled the government’s attempt to terminate South Sudan’s TPS unlawful, stating that the government’s efforts did not comply with Congressional procedures. In the African Communities Together v. Noem case, Judge Saris paused the TPS termination for review and later refused to postpone her order, giving temporary protection for TPS holders from South Sudan despite an ongoing appeal.
“This decision brings much-needed relief to South Sudanese families who have been living in fear and uncertainty for months,” said Amaha Kassa, ACT’s executive director. “Judge Saris recognized what we’ve been saying all along: the government’s justifications for termination are baseless and pretextual. South Sudan remains devastated by war and famine. Our community members have built lives here, raised families, and contributed to their communities for over a decade. ACT is prepared to continue fighting until they have permanent protection.”
The decision temporarily stops the cancellation of protected status for about 232 South Sudanese TPS holders named in the lawsuit, and 73 others who have pending applications. “So it means that the postponement is still in effect,” Nils Kinuani, ACT’s federal policy manager, told the Amsterdam News. “We were able to get a lower court judge to grant the motion that paused the termination date, and now, essentially, this means that the termination is on pause and that South Sudanese TPS holders should continue to enjoy the protections and benefits of TPS.”
The lawsuit against DHS was initiated by Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP), a national alliance of immigrant-led groups, and was filed by African Communities Together along with individual South Sudanese plaintiffs. Muslim Advocates, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Covington & Burling LLP represent the plaintiffs.
Kinuani said ACT was not afraid to confront the administration in court, based on past experiences and a refusal to be intimidated. “This is not the first time. We filed lawsuits in the past against the first Trump administration, also, and we were actually successful then. We filed lawsuits on the TPS for Sudan back in 2019-2020 when the TPS for Sudan was terminated. We won that case; it took a few years, but we ended up winning. We also filed a lawsuit on the rule related to the DV, the Diversity Visa Lottery system. We were also successful there. So it’s not our first time.
“Of course, there are concerns,” Kinuani noted. “We’ve seen how this administration has gone after law firms, even non-profit organizations, not just for-profit firms. But ultimately we do what’s best for our members, and at this moment, this lawsuit is the best thing we can do for our members.”
The South Sudan win is part of a broader legal strategy. ACT is also challenging the administration’s efforts to end TPS for other predominantly Black immigrant communities, including Ethiopians and Somalis. Regarding Ethiopia, Kinuani said ACT also persuaded a judge to pause the termination date. “With Ethiopia, we were able to motion to postpone and that was also granted. With Somalia, we have a hearing on May 4, a court hearing with regard to the motion to postpone. So, the judge will hear arguments at that hearing,” he said.
I wish the US would do something infinitely better: just go and get suffering people in several countries, take them to the US with permanent protection and have charitable organizations funded to help them with jobs and residence, health insurance and education – not only I m English! Only then could the world begin to respect the US again!