On the night of November 21, 2025, former President Donald J. Trump posted on his platform (Truth Social) that he is “terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Somalis in Minnesota.” (Reuters, Newsweek, CBS News)
In his post, Trump alleged that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing,” calling the state of Minnesota a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” tied to Somali-linked crime and broader allegations of financial misappropriation. (Reuters, The Guardian, AP News, CBS News)
He concluded with the blunt directive: “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!” in reference to Somali TPS holders in Minnesota. (Newsweek, Star Tribune, Reuters)
Background: What Is TPS and Who It Affects
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a U.S. immigration designation meant to shield nationals of certain countries from deportation when their home countries are experiencing war, disaster, or instability that makes return unsafe. The protection allows eligible individuals to remain and work legally in the U.S. for a designated period, subject to re-designation or renewal. (The Washington Post, The Guardian, AP News, The Straits Times)
The designation for nationals from Somalia has existed for decades, originally granted in 1991 given the ongoing civil war and instability in Somalia. (Reuters, The Straits Times, The Guardian, Star Tribune) According to recent data, there are only around 705 Somali-born individuals nationwide currently approved for TPS. (Reuters, The Guardian, AP News, The Washington Post) Many Somalis living in the state of Minnesota, however, are U.S. citizens or otherwise not on TPS status. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the United States. (The Guardian, Star Tribune, AP News, CBS News)
Reactions and Pushback
The announcement drew immediate backlash from political leaders, community groups, and civil-rights organizations. Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, responded on social media, writing: “It’s not surprising that the President has chosen to broadly target an entire community. This is what he does to change the subject.” (Reuters, Star Tribune, AP News, CBS News)
Council on American Islamic Relations (Minnesota chapter) decried the move as “tearing families apart” and called the termination deeply concerning for Somali and Muslim communities statewide. Its executive director, Jaylani Hussein, emphasized that many individuals with legal status would be harmed and warned of rising fears and community destabilization. (Star Tribune, AP News, The Guardian, CBS News)
Critics also questioned the evidentiary basis of the claims made by Trump regarding large-scale fraud, money laundering, and gang activity tied specifically to Somali immigrants in Minnesota, calling for transparency, data, and due process. (AP News, The Guardian, Star Tribune, Reuters)
Ilhan Omar, U.S. Representative from Minnesota and Somali-American, responded that most Somalis in America are U.S. citizens and emphasized that the policy change would have limited direct impact on citizens while signaling that “we are here to stay.” (Star Tribune, The Guardian, AP News, Newsweek)
Legal and Policy Implications
- State-specific termination questions: Observers and legal experts say it is highly unusual and possibly unprecedented for a president to announce termination of TPS protections specifically for a state rather than a national designation. Under existing regulations, TPS designation and termination is managed at a national level by the federal government (via the relevant agency). As such, there is uncertainty whether such a state-targeted termination is legally valid. (AP News, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Star Tribune)
- Procedural requirements and notice period: According to legal precedent and past practice, terminating a TPS designation requires a formal process including publication in the Federal Register and typically a notice period before termination takes effect (often 60 days after publication or after a previous extension). Some analysts argue that the immediate “effective immediately” declaration may run up against statutory or procedural safeguards. (Star Tribune, AP News, The Guardian)
- Scale and impact: Given that there are only roughly 705 Somali nationals nationally approved for TPS, and not all are located in Minnesota or rely on ongoing TPS, the immediate legal effects might be small in numbers. Nonetheless, the broader impact on the Somali-American community in Minnesota—many of whom are citizens or long-time residents—could be significant in terms of fear, community relations, stigmatization, and political mobilization. (Reuters, AP News, The Guardian)
- Potential litigation and political fallout: Legal challenges are expected. Advocacy groups and state officials have already signaled intent to scrutinize the legality of the move. The policy shift may also have broader implications for other protected populations and for the U.S. approach to humanitarian protection and immigration policy generally. (Reuters, AP News, The Guardian, Star Tribune)
What Comes Next
- Clarification from the federal government: It remains unclear how the administration (or former administration, depending on timing/political status) plans to implement this change. Will a formal revocation notice be issued via the relevant agency (e.g. Department of Homeland Security / its sub-agencies)? Will there be legal filings or challenges immediately?
- Legal challenges: Civil rights groups, legal aid organizations, and state officials are likely to mount lawsuits if the termination proceeds without due process or if it is applied unevenly. Questions of legality, equal protection, federal authority, and administrative procedure are central.
- Community response and political mobilization: The Somali-American community in Minnesota, including political leaders, civic organizations, and religious groups, will respond. There may be increased calls for protections, support networks, and advocacy
- Broader immigration policy context: This decision fits into a broader pattern of the Trump administration (or aligned leadership) seeking to curtail immigration protections, including re-evaluating and terminating TPS for other countries. Observers will watch whether similar actions follow for other communities.
If you’d like, I can pull up live data on how many Somali-Americans in Minnesota hold TPS or are directly impacted, plus official legal filings already underway.
• Reuters
• AP News
• Star Tribune
• The Washington Post