A federal judge in the United States has ruled against the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) granted to South Sudanese citizens, thereby preventing their deportation. Judge Patty Saris found that the US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, likely acted unlawfully by providing weak justifications for ending South Sudan's designation as a TPS country and failing to disclose the real reasons behind her actions. Under TPS, immigrants from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary circumstances are granted work permits and protection from deportation.

In November, Nielsen announced that South Sudan would no longer qualify for TPS, claiming the nation, which has been plagued by conflict, no longer met the program’s requirements established in 2011. The decision to revoke TPS came under scrutiny due to the lack of compelling evidence presented to support this claim. Judge Saris emphasized that Nielsen did not reveal the actual reasons for her decision, which indicated a predetermined pattern and practice among officials to terminate TPS classifications for various countries.

The ruling is significant as it underscores the importance of legal safeguards for vulnerable populations in the U.S., particularly those fleeing dire conditions in their home countries. The implications of this case resonate beyond South Sudan, as it may set a precedent for ongoing legal challenges to TPS revocations affecting other nationalities. The decision highlights the complex interplay between immigration policy and the judiciary, revealing how administrative decisions can be challenged in the courts, thereby providing a form of protection for marginalized immigrant populations.