The Trump administration has terminated temporary protected status (TPS) for Somalis in the United States, giving hundreds of people two months to leave or face deportation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that conditions in Somalia had improved sufficiently, adding that allowing Somali nationals to remain was 'contrary to our national interests'. The decision affects 705 current TPS holders, according to official data, though anonymous sources cited higher figures of about 2,471 beneficiaries.
President Donald Trump, speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, also announced plans to revoke US citizenship of naturalized immigrants convicted of defrauding 'our citizens'. The remarks come amid heightened tensions in Minnesota, home to a large Somali American community. Trump previously posted on Truth Social about 'Somali gangs terrorizing' the state and called for them to be sent back.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the move as a 'bigoted attack', arguing that Somalia remains war-torn and unstable. Minneapolis and St Paul have filed a lawsuit alleging that Minnesota is being targeted for its diversity and political differences. The lawsuit follows the fatal shooting of American citizen Renee Good by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis, which sparked nationwide protests.
Somalis were first granted TPS in 1991 during the civil war, with renewals under successive administrations, most recently by Joe Biden in September 2024. UN reports indicate Somalia still faces violence from al-Shabaab, drought, and humanitarian crises. Human rights groups warn that returning Somalis could place them at severe risk.
