Trump Administration Terminates TPS for Somali Nationals Amidst Heightened Rhetoric and Enforcement

The Trump administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, effective March 17, 2026. This decision impacts approximately 2,500 individuals who hold this status. The announcement coincided with intensified immigration enforcement operations and significant rhetoric from former President Donald Trump regarding Somali immigrants and their community, particularly in Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali population in the United States.

Presidential Statements and Allegations

Former President Donald Trump made multiple statements concerning Somalia and Somali Americans. He referred to Somalia as a "challenging environment" and its people as "garbage," expressing a preference for them to "return to where they came from." Reasons cited for his stance included claims that Somali residents were overly reliant on U.S. social safety nets, contributed minimally, and that their country was "no good."

Trump specifically criticized Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat born in Somalia, calling her "garbage" and stating she "shouldn't be allowed to be a congresswoman" and "should be thrown the hell out of our country."

"They've destroyed our country and all they do is complain, complain, complain."

The former President alleged that Minnesota served as "a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity" and that "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people." These statements followed unsubstantiated allegations by conservative activist Christopher Rufo that funds from Minnesota programs had been diverted to al-Shabab, an Islamist group in Somalia. Trump administration officials later reported investigating claims of Minnesota tax dollars being funneled to al-Shabab.

Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Secretary Kristi Noem, announced the termination of Somalia's TPS designation, effective March 17, 2026. This decision means approximately 2,500 Somali nationals will lose their legal status and work permits.

Rationale for Termination

Secretary Noem stated that country conditions in Somalia had improved and no longer met the legal requirements for TPS. She also commented that allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the U.S. was "contrary to national interests," emphasizing that "Temporary means temporary."

Program Background

The TPS program, established by Congress in 1990, provides temporary legal protection from deportation to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other hazardous conditions. Somalia initially received TPS designation in 1991 due to civil war.

Guidance for Affected Individuals

Somali nationals whose legal status relies solely on TPS are encouraged to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP Home mobile app to report their departure. This option reportedly includes incentives such as a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential future legal immigration opportunities.

Broader Context

This termination aligns with a broader effort by the Trump administration to end most TPS programs for nationals from various other countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Venezuela.

Immigration Enforcement and Asylum Process Changes

Reports emerged of a planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation, referred to as "Operation Metro Surge," targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota. This operation reportedly focused on individuals who had been issued final deportation orders, with approximately 2,000 federal immigration agents deployed to Minneapolis.

Rapid Asylum Case Rescheduling

U.S. immigration courts rapidly rescheduled and recategorized numerous asylum cases filed by Somali migrants in Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska. Attorneys received notices accelerating hearings for their clients, some of which were previously set for as late as 2028 or had no prior schedule, to dates within the current or next month. Some cases previously scheduled for individual merits hearings were reset for initial master calendar hearings.

Attorney Concerns

Lawyers expressed concerns that this represented a coordinated effort potentially aimed at rejecting Somali asylum applications without full court hearings, thereby expediting deportations and restricting due process. Attorneys noted a lack of historical precedent for creating an entire court docket for a single nationality.

Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse indicated approximately 3,254 pending cases from Somali immigrants in immigration courts, with nearly half originating from Minnesota. In recent months, ICE attorneys reportedly increased filings of motions to "pretermit" asylum cases, seeking denial without a detailed hearing if a case was deemed incomplete or legally deficient. Another strategy involved offering to send migrants to third countries like Uganda.

Enforcement Incident

During an operation in Minneapolis, an immigration enforcement agent fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Good. The Trump administration asserted the agent acted in self-defense, a claim disputed by local officials.

Impact on the Somali Community in Minnesota

Minnesota hosts the largest Somali population in the U.S., with approximately 80,000 individuals of Somali descent, about 78% residing in the Twin Cities area. Many migrated to the U.S. following Somalia's civil war, which began in 1991.

Economic Downturn

Businesses within Karmel Mall, a significant Somali economic and community hub in south Minneapolis, reported a substantial decrease in customer presence and activity over approximately three weeks. Many shops remained closed or experienced low traffic due to widespread fear among sellers and customers, including both citizens and non-citizens, regarding federal immigration agents. Business owners reported significant financial losses, with one electronics seller stating a $20,000 monthly downturn.

Community Fear

The heightened immigration enforcement led to fear extending beyond undocumented immigrants, affecting citizens concerned about potential targeting based on race. Community leaders reviewed the feasibility of holding upcoming annual events in person.

Allegations of Fraud

Dozens of individuals were charged in connection with an alleged scheme involving a charity purportedly billing the Minnesota government fraudulently for meals intended for children during the Covid-19 pandemic, reportedly costing the state tens of millions of dollars. Some Somali immigrants were implicated in this alleged scheme. The House Oversight Committee announced an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's handling of the relief scheme.

Responses and Reactions

From Political Figures

Representative Ilhan Omar criticized Trump's comments as "vile," stating he had "trafficked in racism, in xenophobia, in bigotry, in Islamophobia." She also commented on Trump's "creepy obsession" with her.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey characterized President Trump's message as "wrong," highlighting the contributions of Somali immigrants to Minneapolis in starting businesses, creating jobs, and enriching the city's cultural framework. He asserted that "to again, villainize an entire group is ridiculous under any circumstances" and criticized the potential ICE operation as violating due process.

Community Leaders and Advocates

Jamal Osman, a Minneapolis City Council member, emphasized that while individuals may commit crimes, an entire community should not be held responsible. Jaylani Hussein of CAIR-Minnesota stated the TPS decision "will tear families apart" and characterized it as "a political attack...driven by Islamophobic and hateful rhetoric."

Pro-immigrant advocates criticized the administration's actions, arguing they penalized individuals from crisis-stricken countries. Conversely, Trump administration officials maintained that TPS policies were extended too frequently and that conditions in some countries had improved.

Government and International Views

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that ICE enforces laws across the country, targeting individuals based on their illegal presence, not their race or ethnicity.

Individuals within Somalia expressed commitment to improving the country despite challenges. Ahmed Soliman, a Horn of Africa researcher, noted the significant contributions of Somalis within Somalia and its diaspora. Ilham Ali Gassar, a Somali representative in the East African Legislative Assembly, emphasized the long-standing partnership between the U.S. and Somalia.

U.S.-Somalia Relations Context

Despite the statements, the U.S. government has maintained its support for Somalia, viewing it as a bilateral partner in stabilizing security against the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab. U.S. forces provide training to the Somali army and conduct drone strikes against al-Shabab targets, with data indicating an increase in these strike rates since the Trump administration began.