The Trump administration has officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals in the United States, a decision announced on January 13, 2026, by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
This move affects between 705 and 2,471 individuals who have been living and working legally in the U.S. under the program, with an additional 1,383 pending applications.
Somali TPS holders must depart the country by March 17, 2026, or face deportation proceedings.
TPS for Somalia was first granted in 1991 due to ongoing civil war, famine, and instability, and has been renewed repeatedly by successive administrations, most recently by President Biden in 2024.
Noem justified the termination by stating that conditions in Somalia have improved sufficiently to no longer warrant the protection, aligning with the administration’s view that “temporary means temporary.” However, critics argue Somalia remains dangerous, with persistent violence from groups like Al-Shabaab and humanitarian crises affecting millions.
The decision is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, including surges of agents in Minnesota—home to the largest Somali-American community—and investigations into alleged fraud schemes.
Immigrant advocates have decried it as inhumane, warning of family separations and returns to peril, and plan legal challenges similar to those that blocked previous TPS terminations.
Supporters praise it as enforcing the law and prioritizing American resources amid claims of welfare abuse.
As deportations ramp up, the end of Somali TPS signals a hardline shift, potentially affecting other TPS-designated countries. Legal battles loom, but for now, thousands face an uncertain future in a policy echoing Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
