U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is immediately ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis living in Minnesota, accelerating the termination of a program that has existed since 1991.
“Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing,” Trump said in a late-night post on Truth Social, without providing evidence to support his claims. He added, “I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota.”
Trump criticized Minnesota, calling it a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” under Democratic Governor Tim Walz, citing unverified reports that Somalia’s militant group, Al-Shabaab, had benefited from local fraud.
Governor Walz responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “It’s not surprising that the President has chosen to broadly target an entire community. This is what he does to change the subject.”
The TPS program for Somalis was established by President George H.W. Bush in September 1991, offering protections to foreign-born individuals who cannot safely return home due to civil conflict or natural disasters. Under the Biden administration, TPS eligibility for Somalis was extended through March 17, 2026.
Currently, most Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens, with only 705 Somali-born individuals nationwide holding TPS status, according to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service. By comparison, over 330,000 Haitians and more than 170,000 Salvadorans hold TPS.
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota, criticized the move, noting it could split families and unfairly target legal immigrants. “These individuals have been following the law and should not suffer as a consequence of a political football played against the Muslim community,” Hussein said.
Political strategist Abshir Omar, a Trump supporter, predicted legal challenges, warning that the decision could damage long-term U.S.-Somalia relations. Somalia has recently offered exclusive control of air bases and ports to the U.S. and expressed interest in partnerships to explore its oil reserves.
Trump’s decision signals a hardline approach on immigration, adding to ongoing national debates over TPS and the treatment of immigrant communities in the United States.
