Minneapolis (Sahan Post):- U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the immediate termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in Minnesota, a decision that has triggered strong backlash from legal experts, state officials, and the Somali-American community.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Somali groups of fueling crime and claimed that large sums of money had gone missing in the state, allegations that officials and advocacy groups say are unsubstantiated. The move would remove longstanding protections for some Somali nationals who have lived in the United States for decades.
Legal analysts immediately questioned the legality of the action. Immigration policy specialists told reporters that there is no established legal mechanism allowing a president to revoke TPS protections targeted at one nationality in a single state. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned the directive, while Congresswoman Ilhan Omar criticized the decision as discriminatory and emphasized that many Somali Minnesotans are U.S. citizens.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the country, and news of the TPS rollback has heightened fear among families who have lived under U.S. protection since the early 1990s, when Somalia’s civil conflict first triggered the designation. Only about 700 Somali nationals nationwide currently rely on TPS.
Community organizations warn the decision could destabilize families, invite hostile rhetoric, and accelerate anti-immigrant sentiment. Jaylani Hussein, director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, described the move as “a political attack driven by hateful rhetoric.”
Advocacy groups say court challenges are likely in the coming days and are urging affected individuals to seek immediate legal counsel as the policy’s implications unfold.
info@sahanpost.com
Discover more from SahanPost - English
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.