THIS DAWN — The United States President, Donald Trump, has on Saturday announced the immediate termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis residing in Minnesota.
President Trump disclosed the directive in a post on his Truth Social account.
In the post, made under his handle @realDonaldTrump, Trump alleged widespread criminal activity and financial wrongdoing in the state.
He wrote: “Minnesota, under Governor Waltz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.
“I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota.
“Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing.
“Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!”
The declaration, which has sparked swift political and community reactions, marks one of Trump’s most forceful public interventions since returning to the White House.
What is Temporary Protected Status?
TPS is a humanitarian designation that provides temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.
Somalia has been part of the program since 1991 due to ongoing instability, militant violence, and a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Immigrant-rights organizations immediately condemned the announcement, calling it discriminatory and potentially unlawful.
Legal groups say that wholesale termination of TPS for a single nationality in a specific state is unprecedented and will likely face significant court challenges.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali diaspora community in the United States, many of whom have lived in the country for decades.
Governor Tim Walz has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s directive.
State lawmakers from both parties, however, have called for clarification from the Department of Homeland Security.
The lawmakers noted that allegations of “billions” in missing funds have not been substantiated by federal or state investigations.
Community leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul described Trump’s remarks as inflammatory.
They warned that such rhetoric could heighten tensions and endanger immigrants who contribute to the state’s economy and civic life.
As federal agencies assess the implications of the order, advocacy groups are preparing emergency legal responses aimed at protecting TPS holders.
The plot is to protect the holders while the policy’s constitutionality is tested in court.
