President Donald Trump announced on Friday his administration's decision to terminate temporary legal protections for Somali migrants residing in the United States. The announcement stated that these protections would be ended "immediately".
Program Background
The Temporary Protective Status (TPS) program was established by Congress in 1990. Its purpose is to prevent the deportation of individuals to countries experiencing natural disasters, civil unrest, or other hazardous conditions. The Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to grant this designation, typically in 18-month increments.
Impacted Population
Minnesota hosts the largest Somali community in the United States. Many members of this community migrated from Somalia due to the ongoing civil war in their home country. According to an August report prepared for Congress, approximately 705 Somalis nationwide were covered by the TPS program at the time of the announcement.
President's Rationale
President Trump communicated his decision via his social media platform. He asserted that Minnesota served as "a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity." He further stated, "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It's OVER!"
Community Response
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) responded to the announcement. Executive Director Jaylani Hussein stated that Trump's decision "will tear families apart." Hussein further characterized the action as "not just a bureaucratic change; it is a political attack on the Somali and Muslim community driven by Islamophobic and hateful rhetoric."
Broader Immigration Context
During his previous presidential campaign, Donald Trump pledged to deport millions of individuals. Consistent with a broader approach to implement stricter immigration policies, his administration has sought to discontinue various protections that previously allowed immigrants to reside and work legally in the United States. This includes previous efforts to end TPS for populations from Venezuela and Haiti, as well as attempts to limit protections for migrants from Cuba and Syria.