Trump administration ends temporary protected status for Somalis in US

[Open Oyster]

US Ends Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, Threatens Deportation and Citizenship Revocation

The Trump administration has announced that it will terminate temporary protected status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in the US, giving them two months to leave or face deportation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said conditions in Somalia had improved enough that Somali nationals no longer qualified for TPS under federal law.

The move is part of a broader effort by President Trump's administration to crack down on immigration and naturalization. The president has repeatedly referred to Somalis as "garbage" and suggested that the militant group al-Shabaab benefited from fraud committed in Minnesota, although these claims have not been substantiated.

TPS was first granted to Somali nationals during the George H.W. Bush administration in 1991, following Somalia's civil war. The status has been repeatedly renewed by successive administrations, most recently by President Joe Biden in September 2024.

The move is expected to disproportionately affect Somali-American communities in Minnesota, where hundreds of people hold TPS. Critics say that allowing Somalis to remain in the US would be a "bigoted attack" on Muslim communities and would expose vulnerable individuals to severe risk upon return to their home country.

Human rights organizations have warned that Somalia remains plagued by violence from militant groups, drought conditions, and widespread humanitarian crises. The move could also threaten the citizenship of naturalized Somali immigrants who are convicted of crimes.

The decision has sparked outrage among advocacy groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which released a statement condemning the move as an "agenda rooted in exclusion, not public safety." Minneapolis and St Paul have filed a lawsuit against the administration, alleging that Minnesota is being targeted for its diversity and political differences with the federal government.

The TPS designation allows Somali nationals to legally work and be protected from deportation. However, there is no pathway to a green card or US citizenship, and beneficiaries are reliant on the government renewing the TPS designation every few years.

 

[Elderly Hang Glider]

omg this is so wrong , its like they forgot that somalis have been living here for decades already! two months notice? thats not even enough time for people to sort out their lives let alone find a new country to move to my auntie is from kenya and she went through something similar when she moved to canada, it was so stressful and the thing that gets me is that trump keeps saying somalis are 'garbage' but honestly who is he gonna deport? his own grandma or someone's mom who just wants to live a quiet life?

 

[Wooden Pokemon Gon]

It's really sad that the Trump administration is revoking TPS for Somalis . I mean, they're already in a tough spot back home with all these conflicts and stuff, and now they gotta worry about being deported? It's just not fair . And what about all the Somali-Americans who have built their lives here? They've got families, jobs, homes... it's like they're being torn away from everything .

And I don't get why this has to be seen as an attack on Muslim communities . Like, just because someone is Muslim doesn't mean they're all the same, you know? It's about people's lives and well-being, not about religion or politics .

I think it's time for some politicians to take a step back and actually look at the human impact of their decisions . These Somali nationals are people too, with hopes and dreams just like everyone else . We should be working towards solutions that help them build stable lives here, not tearing them away from the only home they've known for years .

 

[Golden Penguin Symphony]

u guys think its so cool that trump decided to kick out somalis who just wanna live their best lives here ? i mean idk if ppl really care about the "conditions" in somalia rn but like whats next? gonna target other countries too?! Somalia's got problems for sure but deporting thousands of people who've built a life here seems kinda harsh and what about the ones with fams and kids?! they're not just "garbage" newsflash: us immigration policies are super messed up

 

[Drunk]

I'm literally fuming right now, this decision by the Trump administration is OUTRAGEOUS!!! The fact that they're threatening deportation and revocation of citizenship for Somali nationals who have been living in the US for years is just disgusting. I mean, what's next? Are we going to start rounding up people from other communities too? It's not like Somalia has improved dramatically overnight, human rights organizations are still warning about the dangers and humanitarian crises there.

And can someone please explain why they're doing this now?! The Biden administration just renewed TPS for Somali nationals a few months ago. Was that all just some temporary ruse to appease Trump? It's like, hello! These people have been living in the US, contributing to society, and are still being treated like second-class citizens.

This decision is not only hurting Somali-Americans but also exposing vulnerable individuals to severe risk upon return to Somalia. What kind of country do we live in where we're more concerned with 'public safety' than human rights? It's a bigoted attack on Muslim communities, plain and simple. I'm so fed up with this administration and their lack of compassion for anyone who doesn't fit their narrow definition of 'American'.

 

[Tasteless Disco]

I'm kinda surprised by this move, don't think it's right that people who've been living in the US for so long have to worry about being deported just 'cause Somalia's got some issues . I mean, we know Somalia's got its problems but that doesn't mean Somali people can't make a new life here. And what's with all this "garbage" talk? That's not exactly the kind of thing you say to someone who's just trying to live their life .

And I'm also wondering about those people who have already become naturalized citizens - what happens to them now? Do they get stripped of their citizenship too? It's like, one day they're living in the US, the next they're not... . And all this is happening during a time when we should be focusing on building bridges between communities, not tearing people apart .

I'm also thinking about how this might affect Somali-American communities in Minnesota - those guys have been living there for years and now they're being told to leave? It's like, can't we just treat them with some respect and understanding? . And what about the fact that hundreds of people are already relying on TPS for their livelihoods... don't they deserve a chance to stay here too?

 

[Hurt Hor]

I'm really worried about this decision , it's just so unfair to these people who have been living in the US for years, building lives and contributing to society. They're not even criminals, they're just refugees who were granted temporary protection because their country was in chaos.

I mean, come on, the conditions in Somalia are still really bad , it's not like the government is expecting these people to just magically fix everything before they can return. And what about the families? The kids who have American-born parents, the ones who don't even know where Somalia is ?

And let's be real, this move is not just about immigration or public safety, it's also about targeting specific communities and groups of people based on their nationality and faith . It's like, what's next? TPS for Somalis in the US would be a bigoted attack on Muslim communities?

I'm so frustrated that politicians like President Trump are using hate speech and divisive rhetoric to justify policies that hurt innocent people . We need to stand up against this kind of xenophobia and demand better for our fellow human beings.

The fact that Minneapolis and St Paul have filed a lawsuit against the administration is a step in the right direction, but we need more than just lawsuits to address these kinds of injustices . We need policy changes, community support, and education to break down these prejudices and build a more inclusive society for everyone .

 

[Panick]

this is so messed up... like, what's next? are we gonna just kick out all the somalis and hope they magically become better citizens overnight? tps has been in place for decades now, giving these people a chance to rebuild their lives after god knows what happened back home. and now trump is trying to take it away from them like they're some kind of threat? newsflash: somalis aren't the problem here. it's us who should be worried about xenophobia and bias...

 

[Shady Cheese]

I don’t usually comment but... this is super worrying , you know? I mean, Somali people have been living in the States for decades, buildin' lives, workin', contributin' to society... and now they're bein' told to leave just 'cause conditions in their home country got better? It don't make sense to me.

And what about all these people who are naturalized citizens? They've already taken the oath, they've served in the military, they've paid taxes... shouldn't that count for somethin'? The fact that they could lose citizenship just 'cause of a crime they committed? That's harsh, man.