A US federal judge has blocked plans by the administration of President Donald Trump to end temporary protected status for South Sudanese nationals living in the United States. On Tuesday, US District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston granted an emergency request preventing the protections from expiring after January 5, following a lawsuit filed by four South Sudanese migrants and the nonprofit group African Communities Together.

Judge Kelley issued an administrative stay while the case proceeds, stating that allowing the policy to take effect before a full review would remove lawful status from current beneficiaries and could lead to imminent deportations. The case challenges a decision by the Department of Homeland Security, announced in November by Secretary Kristi Noem, to terminate the designation on the grounds that South Sudan no longer met the criteria for the program.

The United States first granted temporary protected status to South Sudanese nationals in 2011 after the country gained independence and conflict escalated. The status provides protection from deportation and work authorization for nationals of countries affected by armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions. According to the lawsuit, about 232 South Sudanese nationals currently hold the status, with a further 73 applications pending, while the country continues to face ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges.