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Despite the community’s large presence in the state, the actual number of Somali nationals protected under TPS is very small. A congressional report released in August estimated that only about 705 Somalis nationwide currently hold TPS. This means that while Trump’s announcement carries symbolic and political weight, the direct number of people affected may be limited.
The TPS program was created by Congress in 1990. It allows the Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary protection to people who cannot safely return to their home countries because of war, disaster, or other dangerous conditions. TPS is usually renewed in 18-month periods depending on conditions in each country.
In announcing his decision on his social media platform, Trump claimed Minnesota had become “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.” He also wrote that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people” and blamed the community for what he described as “billions of dollars” missing. He ended his post by saying, “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!”
His statement drew immediate criticism from community leaders and civil rights groups. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the decision, calling it a direct attack on Somali and Muslim communities. Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said the move “will tear families apart” and described Trump’s message as politically motivated and driven by harmful stereotypes.
Trump has repeatedly promised to sharply increase deportations and adopt tougher immigration rules. Over the past year, his administration has targeted several humanitarian programs that protect immigrants from being forced to return to unsafe conditions. The move to end TPS for Somalis comes after similar rollbacks affecting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, Haitians, and other groups whose protections were expanded under President Joe Biden.
For many Somalis in Minnesota, the announcement has created renewed fear and uncertainty. Even though most Somali residents are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or refugees rather than TPS holders, Trump’s comments have stirred concerns about discrimination, heightened stigma, and potential future policy changes that could affect their families.
Community members and advocates say the decision does not only impact those protected by TPS but also deepens the sense of insecurity among immigrant families who have spent decades building their lives in the United States. They worry that such rhetoric encourages hostility and makes everyday life more challenging for Somali Americans who contribute to Minnesota in countless ways—from business and education to public service and cultural growth.
The Biden administration has not yet issued a full response to Trump’s announcement, and it remains unclear how quickly the termination of TPS would move forward or whether it may face legal challenges. Immigration lawyers say that any move to remove TPS protections typically requires official federal notice and a formal process, but Trump’s comments could signal an attempt to speed up policy changes.
For now, affected families and community leaders say they are bracing for more uncertainty as they await clear instructions from federal agencies. Many hope Congress or the courts will step in to protect the small number of Somalis covered by the program and push back against what they see as harmful political targeting.