AFRICA BAZAAR STAFF WRITER | December 12, 2025
The United States has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopian nationals, a move that carries significant implications not only for immigration policy but also for the evolving diplomatic relationship between Washington and Addis Ababa.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed the decision, stating that conditions in Ethiopia no longer meet the statutory threshold required to justify TPS designation. The Department of Homeland Security said its review concluded that the security and humanitarian situation in Ethiopia has sufficiently stabilized and no longer poses a widespread threat to returning nationals.
“Temporary Protected Status designations are time-limited and were never intended to be a pathway to permanent residency,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson said in a statement. “Since the situation no longer meets the statutory requirements, the Secretary is terminating this designation to restore integrity in our immigration system.”
Under the new directive, Ethiopian nationals who do not have another lawful basis to remain in the United States have 60 days to voluntarily depart. DHS is encouraging affected individuals to use the CBP Home mobile application to report their departure, a process that includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and the possibility of future legal immigration opportunities.
After February 13, 2026, DHS has stated it may begin arresting and deporting Ethiopian nationals without legal status whose TPS protections have ended. Officials warned that individuals who are forcibly removed could face long-term or permanent bars on reentering the United States.
A Diplomatic Signal to Addis Ababa
Experts say beyond the immigration mechanics, the termination of TPS sends a clear diplomatic message: the U.S. government now formally assesses Ethiopia as stable enough to receive returning nationals.
On one hand, experts say that’s good news. Washington’s assessment of improved conditions may help reset the tone of bilateral engagement, shifting the conversation from crisis management toward trade, investment, and strategic cooperation.
For Addis Ababa,—which has been one of U.S. key allies in the East Africa and the Great Lake regions, this represents a tacit acknowledgment of progress following years of internal conflict, including the Ethiopia and Tigray conflict, economic strain, and humanitarian pressure.
On the other hand, the TPS termination introduces near-term uncertainty for affected families and businesses, while also placing pressure on Ethiopian institutions to absorb returnees into the labor market and economy.
The Trump Administration’s decision also comes at a time when the U.S.–Ethiopia relations are gradually recalibrating, particularly as Ethiopia reasserts itself regionally and globally—most recently through its accession to BRICS and renewed engagements with international financial institutions.
The Ethiopia’s diaspora in the U.S. is one of the largest African diaspora communities and has long played an outsized role in remittances, entrepreneurship, and bilateral business ties.
At the same time, U.S. policymakers view the move as reinforcing a broader shift toward rules-based immigration enforcement, even as Washington continues to engage Ethiopia through development finance, security cooperation, and multilateral platforms, underscoring a new shared reality: immigration policy and foreign policy are increasingly intertwined.
While the end of TPS marks a consequential policy shift, experts note that it does not signal a rupture in U.S.–Ethiopia relations. Instead, it reflects a transition—from humanitarian protection toward a more conventional diplomatic and economic framework., which is expected to shape the next chapter of U.S.–Ethiopia relations. The extent to which Ethiopia can capitalize on this moment will depend on its ability to sustain stability, expand economic opportunity, and reassure international partners.
Global stakeholders from both public and private sectors and allied governments will pay closer attention to both governments, how this decision is managed—humanely, transparently, and strategically.
