President Donald Trump has announced significant changes to immigration policies affecting the Somali community in Minnesota, emphasizing his intention to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted to Somalis living in the United States. This status, initiated by former President George H.W. Bush in 1991, was designed to protect individuals unable to return to their home country due to conditions such as civil war or natural disasters.
In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump indicated that the termination of TPS for Somalis in Minnesota is effective immediately, labeling the state as a center of fraudulent activities under the leadership of Democratic Governor Tim Walz. He claimed, “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing.” According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this decision means that once TPS is lifted, affected individuals would be classified as illegal aliens, facing potential detention if they do not self-deport.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with over 61,000 individuals of Somali ancestry residing in a state of approximately 5.7 million. Recent allegations concerning money laundering, particularly related to a child nutrition program connected to the nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future, have intensified scrutiny on the Somali community. This program is implicated in an alleged $300 million fraud scheme involving more than 70 defendants.
In parallel to these developments, Trump has also announced the ending of TPS for other countries, including Venezuela and Nicaragua, following his call for a review of Green Cards issued to migrants from 19 nations, including Somalia, after a recent shooting incident in Washington, D.C. The administration’s efforts to re-evaluate immigration policies align with Trump’s broader narrative of addressing fraudulent activities linked to immigrant communities.
While these changes have sparked considerable debate, they also reflect Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the immigration landscape in the United States. The impact of these policy shifts remains to be seen, particularly on the Somali community in Minnesota, as the state navigates the complexities of immigration and community safety amidst these evolving federal directives.