Trump Administration Ends Protections for Somali Migrants in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS – The Trump administration has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali migrants residing in Minnesota,a decision announced late Friday that could lead to the deportation of thousands. The move fulfills a campaign promise made by former President Trump and signals a renewed push for stricter immigration enforcement.
The decision impacts an estimated 250 Somali migrants who have been living in the U.S. under TPS,a designation granted to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict or natural disasters. While the number directly affected is relatively small, advocates warn the action sets a risky precedent and fuels anxieties within the broader Somali-American community in Minnesota, the state with the largest population of Somali immigrants in the U.S. the termination of TPS protections means these individuals will now face potential deportation proceedings.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the decision, stating it “will tear families apart.” CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director jaylani Hussein released a statement calling the move “not just a bureaucratic change; it is a political attack on the Somali and Muslim community driven by Islamophobic and hateful rhetoric.”
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to escalate deportations. This action aligns with a broader effort to dismantle immigration protections established under the Biden administration. The Trump administration has already moved to end TPS for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians, and has sought to limit protections for migrants from Cuba and Syria.
TPS is granted to foreign nationals of specific countries experiencing unusual and temporary conditions. It allows individuals already in the U.S. to remain and work legally, but dose not provide a path to permanent residency.The conditions in Somalia that initially led to the TPS designation – ongoing conflict and instability – remain a meaningful concern, according to humanitarian organizations. The termination of these protections leaves many facing an uncertain future and potential return to a country they fled due to dangerous circumstances.
