The Trump administration has announced it will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali immigrants in the United States, requiring those currently protected to leave the country by March 17, 2026. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed the deadline on social media, stating that Somali nationals under TPS are now obligated to depart.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the temporary nature of the program, explaining that conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that the country no longer meets TPS eligibility requirements. “Temporary means temporary,” Noem remarked, adding that permitting Somali nationals to remain in the U.S. under TPS contradicts national interests.
The move affects several thousand Somali nationals, including an estimated 600 living in Minnesota. The state has been a focus of renewed federal scrutiny following a large-scale fraud scheme in which many individuals implicated were of Somali descent.
Recent federal immigration operations in Minneapolis have sparked controversy. Last week, a woman driving toward agents was fatally shot. DHS said she used her vehicle as a weapon, while local officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, criticized the response as part of broader aggressive federal enforcement.
TPS for Somalia was first granted in 1991 due to ongoing civil conflict, and most recently extended in September 2024. The Trump administration has also moved to end TPS for nationals of other countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and South Sudan, with several of these actions currently facing legal challenges.
The policy shift marks a significant change for Somali immigrants who have lived in the U.S. under temporary protection for decades, highlighting ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and communities affected by the changes.
