US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would immediately end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Somali-Americans, citing a “security threat” he said was being created in Minnesota by a “Somali group.”
The statement, which he posted on his Truth Social account, has sparked a political debate and widespread backlash. The TPS program for Somalis, which was launched in 1991 under President George H.W. Bush, provided legal protection to Somalis who could not safely return to their country due to civil war and ongoing insecurity.
Trump said in his tweet that Minnesota had become an “illegal economic hub,” a charge he linked to unconfirmed reports by Republican politicians that al-Shabaab was benefiting from corruption involving funds embezzled from the state.
However, there has been strong criticism of the state’s leadership, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz saying the President has deliberately “targeted an entire community,” describing the move as a way to draw public attention during a difficult political time.
While most Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens, only 705 people have TPS, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service.
By comparison, more than 330,000 Haitians and 170,000 from El Salvador are in the same program.
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the BBC that Trump’s decision was “anti-peace” and hurt families who were perfectly legal.
“These are legal immigrants. They were following the law, and they don’t deserve to be punished for a political game,” said Jaylani Hussein.
