Temporary Protected Status for Somalis Will End
The Trump administration is ending Temporary Protected Status for Somali immigrants, according to a public statement from the White House press secretary posted Tuesday on X.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services also posted that Somali nationals with TPS are required to leave the United States by March 17, 2026.
What TPS Is and Who It Covers
Temporary Protected Status is a federal program that allows certain immigrants from designated countries to remain in the United States temporarily.
The designation is tied to safety conditions in a person’s home country, including natural and human made disasters.
Administration’s Stated Rationale
In a statement, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, “Temporary means temporary.”
She added that conditions in Somalia have improved such that the country no longer meets the legal requirements for TPS. She also said allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to national interests and described the decision as putting Americans first.
Somalia’s TPS History
The United States first recognized people from Somalia as eligible for Temporary Protected Status in 1991.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Context
The administration has moved to tighten immigration policy affecting certain countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The article states that President Donald Trump has targeted Somalis in recent weeks, including comments accusing them of harming the country and calling for their removal.
It also notes a renewed focus on Somalis in Minnesota connected to a fraud scandal, in which many of those accused were citizens of Somali descent.
Other TPS Changes and Legal Challenges
The administration has moved to end Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from several other countries, including:
- Afghanistan
- Venezuela
- Haiti
- South Sudan
Multiple efforts to end TPS designations are being challenged in court, including moves involving Haiti and South Sudan.
The article also states that in October, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to proceed with plans to end the TPS program for Venezuelans.
What Happens Next
Somali nationals currently covered by TPS have been told they must leave the United States by March 17, 2026, according to the USCIS statement on X.
No additional details were provided in the material about enforcement steps beyond that date.
Related Coverage
- Idaho News – https://idahonews.co/idaho-news-3/
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