The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to evaluate and potentially end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, raising deep concern among the Somali community in America. The development was disclosed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during remarks in Minnesota.
TPS was originally granted to Somalis in the U.S. more than three decades ago, during ongoing conflict in their home country. But Secretary Noem stated that the program, as applied to Somalis, was always intended to be temporary, a safeguard rather than a path to permanent status. She argued it was never meant to become an “asylum program.”
Her comments follow a public pledge by Donald Trump, who said late last week that he would “immediately” terminate TPS protections for Somalis in Minnesota, calling the state a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.” That announcement has sparked alarm within Minnesota’s large Somali-American community.
There is strong pushback. Legal experts noted that there is no clear legal mechanism for the president to unilaterally end TPS for a specific group in a specific state. Critics argue the move could inflame tensions and fuel Islamophobia, especially given the implications for families who have lived in the U.S. for decades.
TPS for Somalis under the current designation runs through March 17, 2026, according to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. With the clock ticking, Somali advocates and community leaders are calling for emergency legal protections and clarity on how any changes would be implemented without upending families’ lives.
