The Trump administration announced its decision to end the humanitarian protections that currently provide deportation relief and work permits to approximately 1,100 Somalis residing in the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the temporary protected status for Somalis would be terminated due to perceived improvements in conditions within Somalia, despite ongoing conflicts between Somali armed forces and al-Shabaab militants. The termination is scheduled for March 17, with a potential legal challenge expected.
Noem justified the decision by claiming that the situation in Somalia no longer meets the legal requirements for Temporary Protected Status and allowing Somali nationals to remain in the U.S. temporarily is not in the country’s best interests. President Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Somali immigrants, referring to them as “garbage” and highlighting fraud allegations in Minnesota involving some Somali individuals. The administration’s increased scrutiny led to the deployment of over 2,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota to address concerns about fraudulent activities within the Somali community.
Tensions escalated in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, by a federal immigration officer, sparking protests. Temporary Protected Status offers deportation relief and work permits to individuals already in the U.S. from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary events. The Trump administration has been actively seeking to reduce enrollment in the program, citing conflicting interests with U.S. policies.
A recent Federal Register notice indicated that around 1,100 Somalis currently hold the protected status, with an additional 1,400 applications pending. The notice mentioned improved security conditions in Somalia, suggesting that returning Somalis could opt to reside in safer regions like Somaliland. The decision to extend TPS for Somalis in 2024 under the Biden administration highlighted the threats posed by al-Shabaab, emphasizing the need for humanitarian assistance due to the group’s human rights violations against civilians.