Former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his hardline immigration stance by announcing plans that directly affect the Somali community triggering widespread concern among Somali Americans and civil rights advocates.
Trump stated that his administration intends to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, a policy that had allowed thousands to stay in the United States legally due to prolonged instability and conflict in Somalia. The announcement places many long settled Somali families at risk of deportation and has sparked anxiety in Minnesota which hosts the country’s largest Somali American population.
The move follows Trump’s renewed criticism of Somalia and allegations linking members of the Somali community to fraud networks and gang activity. Community leaders and legal experts argue that the statements unfairly stigmatize an entire group and rely on isolated incidents rather than credible evidence of widespread wrongdoing.
The possible end of TPS has already prompted calls for legal action, with state officials and advocacy groups preparing to challenge the decision on grounds of discrimination and constitutional rights. Somali American organizations have condemned the move as politically motivated and harmful to a community that has built deep roots in the United States.
The policy shift is part of a broader immigration crackdown that includes tightened border controls new visa restrictions and a push for expedited removals. Critics warn that the targeted rhetoric against Somali immigrant’s risks fuelling hostility, family separation and growing mistrust between immigrant communities and federal authorities.
For Somali Americans who have lived, worked and raised families in the US for decades, the latest announcement has created deep uncertainty about their future with many bracing for legal battles and community mobilization in the weeks ahead.