Hundreds of South Sudanese nationals in the United States are at risk of losing their temporary protected status (TPS) after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can move forward with stripping their protections. The decision, made by US district judge Patti Saris of the district of Massachusetts, follows a 6-3 supreme court ruling in June that allowed the Trump administration to strip hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians of TPS. This ruling has significant implications for the South Sudanese community in the US, as it could lead to the deportation of individuals who have been living and working in the country for years.
The TPS program, which was established in 1990, allows eligible individuals from certain countries facing crises, including civil war and environmental disasters, to remain in the US temporarily, protecting them from deportation and allowing them to work legally. In the case of South Sudan, the country has been ravaged by years of civil war and political instability, displacing millions of people. Despite this, the Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS for South Sudan, citing that the country no longer meets the conditions for the designation.
In her 15-page ruling, Judge Saris wrote that the plaintiffs' arguments against the termination of TPS were self-contradictory, as they would also undermine the initial issuance of TPS. The ruling has been met with criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including Global Refuge, whose CEO, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, stated that the decision would put vulnerable individuals and families at risk of being sent back to a country on the brink of all-out civil war. The US government's own travel warnings advise Americans to avoid traveling to South Sudan, Haiti, and Syria, citing the high risk of violence and displacement.
The Trump administration's effort to strip TPS protections from hundreds of thousands of immigrants has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it would have devastating consequences for the individuals and families affected. TPS holders have contributed significantly to the US economy, paying $7.8 billion annually in taxes and contributing $262 billion to the economy since 2001. Many TPS holders are employed in critical industries, including construction, hospitality, and healthcare, and losing their status could leave them vulnerable to arrest, detention, and deportation.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen what will happen next to the hundreds of South Sudanese nationals who are at risk of losing their TPS. The ruling has significant implications for the future of immigration policy in the US, and it is likely that the issue will continue to be contested in the courts. For now, the Trump administration has won the right to end TPS protections for South Sudanese nationals, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for these vulnerable individuals and families.
