Trump Moves to End Temporary Protected Status for Somali Nationals in Minnesota

On Friday, President Trump announced his decision to terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in Minnesota, citing widespread fraud linked to “Somali gangs” in the state.

He stated, “Minnesota under Governor Walz is the epicenter of illicit money laundering activity,” through a post. The President emphasized, “As President of the United States, I hereby end the Temporary Protected Status program for Somalis in the State of Minnesota, effective immediately.” He claimed that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of this great country, and billions of dollars are unaccounted for.”

Trump further concluded, “Send them back to where they came from. It’s over!”

The TPS program has been offering humanitarian relief to migrants from various disaster-stricken countries since the 1990s. This federal initiative grants immigrants temporary legal status and work permits in the U.S.

In July 2024, the Biden administration had previously extended TPS for Somalis until March 17, 2026. As of March, there were about 705 Somalis enrolled in the program, although it’s unclear how many are located in Minnesota.

Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a Somali-American, reacted to Trump’s announcement, suggesting that its impact on the approximately 37,000 Somali-born residents of Minnesota would be minimal. “I am a citizen, and so are the majority of Somalis living in the United States,” she wrote, adding, “Good luck celebrating policy changes that don’t have a major impact on the Somalis you hate. We’re here to stay.”

Trump’s action follows allegations of large-scale welfare fraud in Minnesota, where millions in taxpayer funds may have been diverted, some potentially making their way to the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab. A report cited by former state fraud investigators noted that many individuals involved in these fraud scandals are of Somali or Somali-American descent and indicated that funds obtained through fraudulent means could end up financing terrorism when transferred back to Somalia.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from the White House, Department of Homeland Security, or the Minnesota Governor’s Office.