US judge pauses move to end protections for Somali immigrants
Africa
22:29, 14-Mar-2026
CGTN
A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Donald Trump administration from ending humanitarian protections that allow about 1,100 immigrants from Somalia to live and work in the United States.
Allison D. Burroughs of the US District Court in Massachusetts issued an order on Friday delaying the planned March 17 termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals. The ruling temporarily pauses the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security while the legal challenge continues.
Burroughs said allowing the designation to expire immediately could have “weighty” consequences for Somali immigrants, many of whom face the risk of detention, deportation, and family separation.
“Over one thousand people will face ‘a myriad of grave risks,’ including detention and deportation, physical violence if removed to Somalia, and forced separation from family members,” the judge wrote in her order.
The court placed an administrative stay on the policy, meaning the termination is “null, void, and of no legal effect” while the case proceeds. Somali nationals who hold TPS or have pending applications will continue to retain work authorization and protection from deportation or detention during that period.
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration program that shields eligible migrants from deportation and allows them to work legally in the United States when conditions in their home countries make return unsafe.
https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-14/US-judge-pauses-move-to-end-protections-for-Somali-immigrants-1LvKlWB1eTK/p.html
