President Trump announced he is terminating the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis in Minnesota, citing rampant fraud and alleged Somali gang activity. He stated that billions of dollars are missing and that Minnesota, under Governor Walz, has become a hub for fraudulent money laundering.
The TPS program has provided humanitarian relief and temporary legal status with work permits to migrants from countries facing disaster since the 1990s. The Biden administration had most recently extended this designation for Somalis through March 17, 2026, with approximately 705 Somalis enrolled nationwide.
The exact number of these individuals residing in Minnesota is not specified. Trump's decision appears to be influenced by a report detailing how millions of dollars in welfare fraud schemes in Minnesota may have been funneled to Somalia-based terror group al-Shabab.
This report, citing former investigators and officials, indicated that many defendants in these fraud cases are of Somali descent, with funds sometimes reaching the terror group even if unintentionally. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is Somali American, commented that the impact of this policy change on Minnesota's Somali-born residents, the majority of whom are citizens, will be limited.
She suggested the move was aimed at those Trump "loves to hate," asserting that Somalis are permanent residents. The White House, Department of Homeland Security, and the Minnesota governor's office had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
