US ends temporary protected status for Somalis

Allowing people from the African state to remain in the US under the program goes against national interests, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said

The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Somalia, amid allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota, home to the largest diaspora of the East African nation in the US.

The move will effectively force around 2,400 Somali nationals granted deportation relief and work permits out of the US when the TPS officially expires on March 17.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed in a statement on Tuesday that “conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status,” despite ongoing clashes between Somali forces and the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

“Allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests. We are putting Americans first,” Noem said.

READ MORE: Trump brands Somalis ‘garbage’

The decision follows Trump’s recent criticisms of Somali immigrants, including remarks describing them as “garbage” and claims of fraudulent activity by some Somalis in Minnesota. Thousands of federal immigration agents have been deployed to the state in response to fraud allegations involving childcare and healthcare centers allegedly run by Somali residents. According to some reports, funds stolen from the state were transferred overseas via informal networks, with some potentially ending up with Al-Shabaab in the African country.

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Speaking at an event in Detroit on Tuesday, Trump threatened to revoke the citizenship of “any naturalized immigrant from Somalia or anywhere else” convicted of defrauding US citizens.

“If you come to America to rob Americans, we’re throwing you in jail and we’re sending you back to the place from where you came,” he said.

The TPS allows eligible nationals to temporarily live and work in the US if they are unable to return safely. Since Trump took office last year, his administration has moved to phase out the program for the majority of countries. South Sudanese nationals lost their status on January 5, 2026, while Ethiopians will lose their benefits on February 13.

In December, a US judge blocked the White House’s attempt to end TPS for other nationalities, including South Sudan, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, citing racial bias in decision-making.