Trump Administration Ends Temporary Protected Status for Thousands of Somalis in the US

The Trump administration has announced it is ending Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals living in the United States, a move that will affect thousands of people who have been allowed to remain in the country due to instability in Somalia. The Department of Homeland Security said Somali TPS holders will lose their protected status and be required to leave the US by March 17, 2026, unless they qualify for another legal immigration pathway .

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said conditions in Somalia have improved enough that the country no longer meets the legal threshold for TPS, arguing that continuing the designation is not in the national interest. According to government data cited in the reports, roughly 2471 Somali nationals currently hold TPS, with an additional 1383 applications pending, a decision that is expected to have a significant impact on Somali communities, particularly in Minnesota.