Legal Battle in Massachusetts Court
A coalition of South Sudanese nationals and immigrant-rights advocates filed suit in Massachusetts, hours before Christmas, to block the U.S. move to end Temporary Protected Status on 6 January 2026.
Plaintiffs African Communities Together and four named TPS holders say Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s 6 November order breaks federal law and defies the spirit of the TPS statute.
Arguments Highlight Ongoing Conflict
Court filings depict South Sudan as still gripped by armed clashes, food insecurity, and mass displacement, challenging Washington’s claim that conditions have improved.
The complaint quotes United Nations reports and the U.S. State Department’s Level 4 travel warning to argue that ‘all indicators point to a slide back toward another deadly war’.
Human Stakes for TPS Holders
For roughly 400 South Sudanese protected by TPS, the order could mean deportation to danger, loss of work authorization or a scramble for refuge in a third country.
‘We face an impossible choice,’ the suit states, noting that the 60-day wind-down period is the shortest allowed and offers little time to seek other visas.
Parallel Diplomatic Outreach to Washington
On 26 December 2025, Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba phoned U.S. Senior Presidential Advisor Massad Boulos, exchanging holiday greetings while quietly addressing the tense bilateral moment.
Juba officials, facing travel bans and aid warnings, see behind-the-scenes diplomacy as essential to prevent broader isolation and to complement the legal strategy.
Regional Reverberations in Africa
Observers say the dispute exemplifies wider pressures on African states as U.S. migration debates intersect with security concerns, humanitarian funding, and perceptions of governance.
Capitals from Brazzaville to Nairobi are watching; a successful legal defense could signal that African diplomacy and diaspora litigation remain potent in shaping U.S. policy.