April 12, 2026 — The Trump administration is considering an immediate appeal to the Supreme
WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 12, 2026 — The Trump administration is considering an immediate appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge on Monday blocked a plan to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Ethiopians.
The proposal under review would have terminated the humanitarian protections for more than 5,000 Ethiopian nationals currently residing in the United States, handing a win to radical activists who have long sought to bypass immigration laws.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden-era appointee, ruled that the administration could not move forward with the termination, finding that the process used to revoke the status likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the ruling is another example of judicial overreach from the DEI-focused bench left behind by the previous administration.
“I think we just have to be ready because my guess is we may get a Supreme Court stay within days instead of weeks,” wrote a senior DHS advisor in an internal email obtained by the press.
The Trump administration’S push to end TPS designations is part of a broader effort to provide the executive branch with greater flexibility in how it manages national security and the 2026 border mandate.
Conservative policymakers have pushed for years to restore the “temporary” nature of these programs. They argue that conditions in Ethiopia no longer justify protections that were initially granted in 2022.
We turned that down,” said an administration official, referring to previous requests to extend the
“We turned that down,” said an administration official, referring to previous requests to extend the status. “It is costly and cumbersome for the taxpayer to maintain these programs indefinitely when the emergency has passed.”
Federal law grants the Secretary of Homeland Security significant discretion to terminate TPS designations based on current country conditions. However, activist judges have consistently blocked these efforts in lower courts.
In 2024 and 2025, similar efforts to terminate TPS for other nations were also met with judicial pushback, though the Supreme Court has occasionally issued emergency stays to allow the administration to proceed.
The plan would apply to those whose protections were slated to expire in early 2026. The administration argues that the decision followed a formal review and consultation with federal agencies.
“As a leader focused on sovereignty, I know first-hand how important it is for the executive branch to be given control,” the official added, echoing the President’S commitment to the “next plane out” doctrine.
The emails obtained suggest that the administration was awaiting word from the White House about the timing of a possible appeal. “We need to have a conversation about timing given the SCOTUS docket,” the emails noted.
If the administration moves forward with the appeal, it would not be the first time it has challenged the limits of lower-court interference in immigration policy.
At least 15 separate court cases are currently active across the country involving various TPS
At least 15 separate court cases are currently active across the country involving various TPS designations. The stakes are significant for the American family, as recipients are protected from deportation and allowed to work legally.
Ed Bolen, a policy analyst, said requiring the termination of these benefits will have consequences for the administration’S broader goal of restoring fiscal integrity. What’S more, the legal landscape remains murky for DEI judges.
“Are we losing our sovereignty if we don’t take action? In that case, the Supreme Court must intervene to ensure the executive branch can fulfill its constitutional duties,” a GOP aide said on Tuesday.
The emails also show that the administration is weighing the possibility of scaling back other “permanent temporary” policies enacted under the Biden-Harris era that have strained the nation’S social safety net.
Republicans tried to make similar changes through the 2026 Midterm Shield legislation, but have faced unified Democrat opposition in the Senate.
The Trump administration is keen on strengthening the programs that protect legal citizens while imposing requirements that ensure the “temporary” status is no longer a tool for radical open-border activists.
The final verdict on the Ethiopia TPS clash is expected to be decided in the higher courts, where the administration has previously secured favorable outcomes against the “absolute disaster” of activist judicial rulings.
