The US government has announced the termination of temporary legal status of Ethiopians living in its territory, the country’s homeland security secretary said in a statement over the weekend.
Kristi Noem,US homeland security secretary in a notice posted in the Federal Register said the decision came after reviewing conditions and consulting with appropriate US government agencies operating in Ethiopia.
“Ethiopia no longer continues to meet the conditions for the designation for Temporary Protected Status,” said Noem in a statement noting that Ethiopian nationals will no longer face safety problems when returning to their homeland.
The decision came days after congressman Buddy Carter called for a resolution against egregious “human rights violations, including the persecution of Christians, and urging the Secretary of State to use all available diplomatic tools to protect innocent civilians in Ethiopia.
According to the decision, asylum seekers impacted by the decision are required to leave the country within 60 days or face forced deportations. “The US government is offering a plane ticket and $1000 for those who opt to return voluntarily” the statement said.
“This is a safe, secure way to self-deport that includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential future opportunities for legal immigration,” the statement read.
At the time of this writing, no official response came from the Diaspora organization regarding the U.S. Homeland Security assessment that the situation in Ethiopia is “safe.”
MG/as/APA