US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis living in Minnesota. The decision speeds up the termination of a program that began in 1991 under former President George H.W. Bush.
Trump posted the decision on Truth Social. He claimed that “Somali gangs are terrorising” Minnesota and alleged that “billions of dollars are missing.” However, he did not present any evidence for these claims. He also argued that Minnesota had become a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” under Democratic Governor Tim Walz. Several Republican lawmakers have recently repeated similar unverified reports linking Al-Shabaab to fraud schemes in the state.
Governor Walz responded on X and said the President was “broadly targeting an entire community.” According to him, Trump’s comments were an attempt to distract from other national issues.
Even so, official data tells a different story. The Congressional Research Service reports that only 705 Somali-born individuals across the entire United States currently hold Temporary Protected Status. Most Somali-origin residents in Minnesota are US citizens, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Omar fled Somalia’s civil war as a child, lived in a Kenyan refugee camp, and later settled in Minneapolis. Today, she represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
TPS for Somalis was first introduced in 1991 to protect people who could not safely return home because of ongoing conflict. At present, 17 countries hold TPS designation. Although the Trump administration has attempted to end several designations, including those for Venezuela and Nicaragua, the Biden administration had extended TPS for Somalis through March 17, 2026.
Community leaders strongly criticised Trump’s move. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Minnesota, said the affected Somalis are legal migrants who “followed the law.” He warned that the decision may separate families and create long-lasting harm.
Meanwhile, Abshir Omar, a political strategist and former Trump supporter, said he expects the change to face legal challenges. He also noted that the decision could damage US–Somalia relations. Somalia recently offered the United States exclusive access to strategic ports and air bases, and has shown interest in partnering with American companies to explore its oil reserves.
Trump’s announcement has sparked strong political, legal, and community reactions. As the situation develops, many expect courts and Congress to weigh in.