BREAKING: Trump Announces He is Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota — EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Credit: Gage Skidmore
President Donald J. Trump announced Friday night that he is immediately terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, a move that could lead to expedited deportations in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the United States.
The decision follows years of concern over crime and high-profile fraud cases, including the Feeding Our Future Medicaid scandal, in which authorities say stolen funds were funneled to the al-Shabaab terrorist group.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson has described the fraud as extensive. “To be clear, this is not an isolated scheme,” Thompson said in September. “From Feeding Our Future to Housing Stabilization Services and now Autism Services, these massive fraud schemes form a web that has stolen billions of dollars in taxpayer money.”
More than 70 defendants—predominantly Somali—have been charged, with additional indictments expected.
In a post on Truth Social Friday night, President Trump wrote:
“Minnesota, under Governor Waltz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota. Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!”
The Somali population in Minnesota is estimated at 80,000 to 100,000, with a significant concentration in Representative Ilhan Omar’s congressional district. Federal authorities have linked Somali gangs to violent crime, human trafficking, and terror financing.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) notes that TPS is a temporary measure allowing nationals from designated countries to remain in the U.S. when conditions in their home country prevent safe return. TPS does not grant permanent residency or other immigration status, and individuals under TPS cannot normally be detained for immigration reasons while the status is in effect.
However, ICE records show that over 4,000 Somali nationals currently have final orders of removal. With TPS protections ending and Somalia cooperating on repatriation flights, deportations could now proceed more quickly.
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