U.S. President Donald Trump announced the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Somalis residing in Minnesota, in a move he said would take effect "immediately," ending a program that began in 1991 under Republican President George H.W. Bush.
Trump posted on his platform Truth Social, claiming that "Somali gangs terrorize the residents of this great state, and billions of dollars are lost," without providing evidence to support these claims. He added, "As President of the United States, I hereby end the TPS program for Somalis in Minnesota."
The president also criticized the state, calling it "a hub for fraudulent money-laundering operations" under Democratic Governor Tim Walz, referencing media reports circulated by some Republican lawmakers about Somali extremist groups allegedly benefiting from scams in the state.
Governor Walz responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "It’s not surprising that the president targets an entire community to distract from the topic. This is part of his political style." Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar described Trump’s decision as "another late-night threat," saying the president is targeting legally recognized individuals instead of focusing on reducing costs for citizens.
The TPS program for Somalis was launched in September 1991 to provide legal protection for individuals who could not return to their home country due to civil war or disasters. Currently, the program covers citizens of 17 countries. During his first presidency, Trump’s administration ended TPS for several countries, including Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Unlike Trump’s approach, President Joe Biden had extended the eligibility for Somalis under the program until March 17, 2026. According to Congressional Research Service data, around 705 Somalis benefit from TPS in the U.S., while more than 330,000 Haitians and 170,000 Salvadorans have similar protections.
Jelani Hussein, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota, criticized the decision, saying it affects legal immigrants and harms families. He added, "These individuals have complied with the law and should not pay the price for a political game targeting the Muslim community."
Political advisor Abshir Omar, who supported Trump in the 2024 elections, predicted that the decision could face legal challenges and negatively affect strategic and economic relations with Somalia, which in March offered the U.S. exclusive rights to airbases and ports and sought partnerships with American companies to explore its significant oil reserves.