The United States government has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, a decision that will require several thousand Somali nationals living in the country to leave by March 17.
The move, confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), affects Somali migrants who were granted TPS due to conditions in their home country. Among those impacted are several hundred individuals living in Minnesota, a state that hosts one of the largest Somali communities in the U.S.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the decision follows a review of conditions in Somalia and reflects the administration’s broader immigration priorities.
“Temporary means temporary,” Noem told Fox News in a statement.
“Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status,” she added.
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain and work legally in the United States when it is deemed unsafe for them to return home.
While it offers protection from deportation, the status is not permanent and does not provide a direct path to citizenship or permanent residency.
Noem said continuing to allow Somali nationals to stay under TPS no longer serves U.S. interests.
“Further, allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests,” she said.
“We are putting Americans first.”
The termination means Somali TPS holders must either depart the U.S. by the March 17 deadline or obtain another lawful immigration status to remain in the country.
DHS has not announced any special extensions or alternative protections for those affected by the decision.
The announcement is expected to have significant consequences for Somali families who have lived in the United States for years under TPS.
Many beneficiaries have established long-term roots, including employment, education, and family ties, particularly in Minnesota and other states with sizable Somali populations.
The decision to end TPS for Somalia aligns with the Trump administration’s push to narrow the use of temporary humanitarian immigration programs.
Officials have repeatedly emphasized stricter enforcement of immigration laws and a reassessment of country conditions as part of a broader effort to reduce the number of migrants eligible for temporary protections.
As the deadline approaches, advocacy groups and affected communities are closely watching for further guidance from federal authorities, while Somali TPS holders face uncertainty over their future in the United States following the end of the designation.
