The United States government has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 2,400 Somali nationals. This decision, which will take effect on March 17, 2024, comes amid allegations of widespread fraud concentrated in Minnesota, home to the largest population of Somalis in the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the administration believes conditions in Somalia have improved sufficiently to no longer warrant TPS. “Allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests. We are putting Americans first,” Noem asserted in a statement released on Tuesday.
The TPS program allows eligible individuals to live and work in the U.S. if they cannot return safely to their home countries due to ongoing conflict or natural disasters. Critics of the administration’s decision have highlighted the continuing violence in Somalia, particularly the ongoing clashes between Somali forces and the militant group Al-Shabaab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda.
This announcement follows a series of recent comments from President Donald Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of Somali immigrants, referring to some as “garbage” and alleging fraudulent activities by certain individuals within the Somali community in Minnesota. In response to these claims, thousands of federal immigration agents have been dispatched to the state to investigate alleged fraud involving childcare and healthcare services purportedly operated by Somali residents.
According to reports, funds believed to be misappropriated from state resources may have been transferred overseas through informal networks, raising concerns about potential links to Al-Shabaab. During an event in Detroit, Trump warned that any naturalized immigrant from Somalia—or anywhere else—convicted of fraud would face the possibility of losing their citizenship. “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 stated.
Since President Trump took office in January 2017, his administration has been actively moving to phase out TPS for various nationalities. Recently, nationals from South Sudan lost their protected status on January 5, 2024, while Ethiopian nationals are scheduled to lose their benefits on February 13, 2024.
In December 2023, a U.S. judge blocked the administration’s attempt to end TPS for other nationalities, including those from South Sudan, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The ruling cited concerns over racial bias in the decision-making process regarding the termination of these protections.
The termination of TPS for Somali nationals represents a significant policy shift with potential implications for thousands of individuals who have relied on this status for stability in the United States. As the situation develops, advocates for immigrant rights are likely to challenge the decision, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by those from Somalia.
