A Massachusetts federal judge has once again blocked the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, issuing a new administrative stay after plaintiffs rewrote their lawsuit around constitutional claims. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued the administrative stay after African Communities Together and other plaintiffs filed an amended complaint alleging the Trump administration violated the Fifth Amendment by terminating Somalia’s TPS designation based on racial and national-origin discrimination.

Background

The plaintiffs argue that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to revoke Somalia’s TPS designation was predetermined, pointing to President Donald Trump’s November 2025 Truth Social post announcing the end of TPS months before DHS had completed the review process. The complaint also alleges the administration violated the Fifth Amendment’s Equal Protection guarantee by targeting Somali nationals based on race and national origin.

The Trump administration’s immigration agenda has faced several setbacks in recent months, with various court rulings blocking the termination of TPS for certain countries. The administration has argued that TPS is meant to be a temporary designation, and that it is not a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship.

Reaction

DHS General Counsel James Percival accused Burroughs of continuing a pattern of judicial obstruction, stating that ‘Judge Allison Burroughs just entered yet another order preventing the termination of Somalia TPS. There is no serious debate about what is going on in these cases — defiance, obstruction, and delay.’ Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan also criticized the ruling, arguing that it ‘turns the law upside down’ and that the plaintiffs’ claims are ‘frivolous’.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.