- A federal judge lifted the stay on the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals.
- The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling limiting judicial review of DHS termination decisions.
- Approximately twenty-five hundred people are affected, though some may have alternative legal pathways available.
A Federal Judge on Friday cleared the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals, lifting the order that had kept their protection and work authorization in place while litigation continued.
U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs of Massachusetts issued the ruling on August 14, 2026, removing the immediate obstacle to the administration’s termination plan. The decision did not order the removal or deportation of any particular Somali national.
The Somalia TPS program had been scheduled to end on March 17, 2026. Burroughs issued a stay on March 13, preserving both TPS and employment authorization as the case proceeded.
The litigation continues. The case is African Communities Together et al. v. Noem et al., No. 26-cv-11201 (D. Mass.).
Burroughs said the Supreme Court’s June 25 decision in Mullin v. Doe, 609 U.S. ____ (2026), constrained her authority to keep the stay in place. She wrote that she was “bound … to view things through the Mullin prism.”
The judge also found that the plaintiffs had made a “convincing showing that they will suffer irreparable harm.” She described the administration’s refusal to provide a wind-down period as “shameful cruelty,” but concluded that the precedent required her to lift the protection.
The order ends the court barrier, not every immigration option
The administration’s termination took effect on August 14. About 1,100 Somali nationals were directly enrolled in the program, while nearly 2,500 people were affected when pending applications were included.
Those figures include communities in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maine, and Ohio. Minnesota has the largest Somali community in the United States.
The ruling does not decide whether an individual has another way to remain in the country. Some former beneficiaries may hold another lawful status, have a pending application, or qualify for individual relief, including a pending asylum claim or a family-based path connected to U.S. citizenship.
USCIS said beneficiaries retained status and work authorization only while the court order remained effective. The agency also addressed employment authorization documents in categories A12 and C19 through notices issued during the litigation. Its updates are available through the USCIS notice on the termination.
The termination now removes that litigation-based protection. Employers and workers must follow the agency’s current instructions for employment verification and EAD validity.
The Supreme Court ruling changed the case’s legal posture
In Mullin v. Doe, the Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that federal law generally bars judicial review of TPS designation and termination decisions made by the Department of Homeland Security.
That ruling became the central constraint in Burroughs’ Somalia case. It also narrowed the ability of lower courts to block terminations involving Burma, South Sudan, and Syria.
The plaintiffs argued that the Somalia termination reflected racial animus and violated the Fifth Amendment. The amended complaint also contains separate constitutional claims that could affect the litigation’s next stage.
Somalia first received TPS designation in 1991, after civil war and humanitarian crises. The program continued through extensions for 35 years before the administration ended it in 2026.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination on January 13, 2026. She wrote: “Temporary means temporary. Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law's requirement. We are putting Americans first.”
President Donald Trump’s remarks also appear in the litigation. The complaint cites statements describing Somali people as “garbage” and “low IQ people” who “contribute nothing.”
Appeals and agency guidance could determine the next steps
The plaintiffs may seek further relief in the First Circuit or the Supreme Court, including an emergency stay. A higher court’s action could alter how quickly the termination operates.
USCIS may also issue additional guidance on EAD validity and employment verification.
Representative Andy Ogles filed an impeachment resolution against Burroughs on August 1, 2026. He accused her of defying the Supreme Court by maintaining the stay before the August ruling.
Muslim Advocates and African Communities Together, the lead plaintiffs, condemned the decision. The groups said it would separate families who had lived and worked legally in the United States for decades.
The administration has promoted the CBP Home mobile app as an option for people who choose to leave the United States. The offer includes a “complimentary plane ticket” and a $1,000 exit bonus.
Similar terminations for Burma and South Sudan took effect in early August 2026. Ethiopia remained subject to a separate court-ordered block as of mid-August.
A person whose TPS-based protection has ended may face immigration consequences if no other status or relief applies. The effect depends on the individual’s record, pending filings, and available defenses.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
