WASHINGTON D.C January 13, 2026 – The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in the United States, requiring several thousand affected individuals to leave the country by March 17, 2026.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision, stating, “Temporary means temporary. Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status. Further, allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests. We are putting Americans
TPS for Somalia was first designated in 1991 due to ongoing civil war and instability. The Biden administration had extended it most recently in 2024. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data cited in reports, approximately 2,471 Somali nationals currently hold TPS, with an additional 1,383 applications pending. Around 600 of those protected live in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali communities in the U.S.
The termination follows intensified immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, where federal agents have conducted raids amid investigations into a multi-billion-dollar fraud scheme involving members of the Somali community. Recent operations have sparked protests, clashes, and criticism from local leaders.
Minnesota officials have strongly opposed the federal actions. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz have criticized DHS operations, while the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed a lawsuit against the administration over the enforcement efforts. State Attorney General Keith Ellison accused federal agents of sowing “chaos and terror” in the metropolitan area.
The Department of Homeland Security posted the announcement on X, accompanied by a graphic stating that several thousand Somali nationals must leave by March 17.
The move is part of broader immigration policy changes under the Trump administration, which has prioritized stricter enforcement and the reduction of temporary protections for various nationalities.
Somali community advocates and immigrant rights groups are expected to challenge the decision, citing ongoing security concerns in parts of Somalia despite reported improvements.
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