The Trump administration is set to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 1,100 Somali nationals next week, potentially revoking their legal right to live and work in the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cites “improved conditions” in Somalia as justification for ending TPS. However, four Somali nationals and two migrant-rights groups have filed a lawsuit, arguing the decision is unlawful and driven by prejudice rather than objective conditions. Legal advocacy groups, including Muslim Advocates, have condemned the move as discriminatory. The complaint references statements by President Trump, who has reportedly insulted Somalis in the past, calling them “trash and low-IQ people” and suggesting in December 2025 that they be sent “back to where they came from.”
African Communities Together is also challenging TPS terminations affecting nearly 12,000 African nationals from Cameroon, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Court proceedings could delay policy changes for months or years. Meanwhile, U.S. immigration enforcement has intensified efforts against Somali immigrants in Minnesota and Maine, sparking protests nationwide. Separately, Minnesota prosecutors are investigating a series of social service fraud schemes allegedly costing taxpayers more than $200 million, with estimates possibly reaching $9 billion. Nearly 100 cases involve Covid-era food aid, housing, and autism assistance programs, with the majority of defendants reportedly of Somali descent. About 66 people have been convicted so far.
