By TESFA-ALEM TEKLE
December 16,2025 (TORONTO) — Ethiopian immigrants across Colorado are facing growing uncertainty and fear after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia, a move that could leave thousands vulnerable to deportation within weeks.
Colorado is home to one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the United States, with estimates ranging between 30,000 and 50,000 people, according to the University of Colorado Boulder’s Colorado Ethiopian Community.
Immigration advocates warn that the decision has sent shockwaves through families, businesses, and community organizations that have spent years building roots in the state.
Under the DHS announcement issued on Friday, Ethiopians currently protected under TPS will have 60 days to leave the country or face potential removal proceedings.
TPS had allowed Ethiopians to live and work legally in the U.S. due to ongoing conflict, political instability, and humanitarian crises in their home country.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” said Lidia Tamerat, a leader with the nonprofit Colorado Ethiopian Community.
“We’re business owners. We’re workers. We’re taxpayers. We are part of this community, and suddenly people are being told their lives here no longer matter.”
Advocates argue that conditions in Ethiopia remain unsafe, citing continued armed conflict in parts of the country, political repression, economic instability, and widespread displacement.
They say the decision ignores the realities on the ground and places families at risk of separation, financial ruin, and return to unsafe conditions.
Many Ethiopians under TPS have lived in the United States for years, raising U.S.-born children, opening small businesses, and contributing to local economies.
Community leaders warn that the loss of legal work authorization will also harm Colorado’s economy, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and small enterprises where Ethiopian immigrants are heavily represented.
Immigration attorneys are urging affected individuals to seek legal advice immediately, as some may qualify for alternative immigration relief, including asylum, family-based petitions, or other humanitarian protections.
However, advocates stress that these options are limited and often expensive, leaving many families with few realistic paths forward.
Community organizations and immigrant rights groups are calling on Congress and the Biden administration to intervene, either by extending TPS or providing a permanent legal pathway for long-term TPS holders.
“For many people, Ethiopia is not a safe place to return to,” Tamerat said. “Ending TPS now is not just a policy decision — it’s a humanitarian one, and the consequences will be devastating.”
As the 60-day countdown begins, Ethiopian families in Colorado and across the country are bracing for an uncertain future, hoping that political pressure and legal action may yet reverse a decision they say threatens to upend thousands of lives.
