In a landmark decision that protects vulnerable immigrants, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to strip temporary protected status from South Sudanese citizens living in the United States.

US District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston issued an emergency order on Tuesday, responding to a lawsuit filed by South Sudanese nationals and immigrant rights organization African Communities Together. The ruling prevents the expiration of temporary protected status (TPS) for South Sudanese citizens, which was originally scheduled to end on January 5.

The legal challenge directly confronted the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to remove TPS, a critical immigration status granted to citizens from countries experiencing extraordinary circumstances like conflict, natural disasters, or widespread instability. For South Sudan, this status was initially established in 2011 following the country's independence from Sudan and has been repeatedly renewed due to ongoing regional tensions.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had argued that recent peace developments justified ending the protections, claiming that improved diplomatic relations and a 2018 peace agreement made return safe. However, her assertion was sharply contradicted by a United Nations expert panel, which reported that human suffering remained extensively unchanged, with ongoing conflicts, aerial bombardments, flooding, and critical food insecurity creating dangerous conditions.

The lawsuit highlighted the potential humanitarian risks of deportation, pointing out that returning South Sudanese nationals could face what international experts describe as one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The TPS status critically allows eligible individuals to work and receive protection from deportation, offering a lifeline to those fleeing dangerous conditions.

This legal victory is part of a broader pattern of judicial challenges to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Similar court actions have previously halted deportation attempts for nationals from countries like Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua, demonstrating a consistent judicial approach to protecting vulnerable immigrant populations.

The judge's decision represents a significant moment of humanitarian protection, ensuring that South Sudanese nationals are not forcibly returned to a region experiencing profound instability and potential danger.