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A group of immigrants and advocacy organizations has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, seeking an extension of the March 17 deadline that would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals in the United States. Filed Tuesday in a Massachusetts district court, the suit alleges the administration’s decision is racially motivated rather than based on improved conditions in Somalia.
The change would force approximately 1,080 Somali TPS recipients to either self-deport or surrender to immigration enforcement authorities. The lawsuit, brought by African Communities Together and the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, names the Department of Homeland Security as a defendant.
“President Trump has smeared the Somali community publicly, categorically, and repeatedly. He has called Somali people ‘garbage’ and ‘low IQ people,'” the legal challenge states, referencing remarks made by President Trump during a cabinet meeting last year. The plaintiffs argue these comments “reflect a desire to target and punish Somali nationals based on their race and national origin in violation of the U.S. Constitution.”
The legal challenge comes amid the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration, with particular focus on Somali populations in states like Minnesota. The administration’s attention to Somalia intensified in November 2025 following reports that predominantly Somali-led fraud schemes had allegedly diverted as much as $9 billion from Minnesota government assistance programs.
That news prompted Trump’s initial move against Somali TPS. “Minnesota is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. I am, as president of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota,” Trump announced in a November post on Truth Social.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made the designation change official in January. Despite Noem’s recent departure from the agency, a DHS spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the plans remain unchanged.
“Temporary means temporary. Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status. Allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests. The Trump administration is putting Americans first,” the spokesperson stated.
The Immigration Law of 1990 established TPS to shield foreign nationals from removal if their countries of origin are experiencing temporary conditions such as war or natural disasters that would prevent safe return. The attorney general has authority to extend a country’s TPS designation for 18-month periods. Somalia has held this designation since 1991—spanning 35 years.
The plaintiffs argue that dangerous conditions persist in Somalia, citing terrorist activity from groups like al-Shabaab that was acknowledged in Somalia’s most recent TPS extension. “The 2024 redesignation noted that ‘Somalia continues to experience widespread insecurity due to armed conflict involving state and non-state actors,'” the lawsuit states, adding that civilians remain subject to human rights abuses including “summary executions, indiscriminate and targeted killings, gender-based violence, child recruitment, disappearances and physical abuse.”
Trump has maintained a focus on Somalia since his first term, when he included the country in a 2017 travel ban. This latest move reflects the administration’s consistent stance on tightening immigration policies, particularly for countries it has targeted with restrictions before.
The case represents a significant test of the administration’s immigration authority and could potentially impact how TPS designations are handled in the future. Somalia’s long-standing TPS designation—unusual in its 35-year duration—makes this case particularly notable in immigration policy circles.
DHS has declined to comment on its current assessment of Somalia’s on-the-ground conditions, a key factor in determining whether the country still qualifies for TPS designation under the law.
The outcome of this legal challenge could affect not only the Somali community in the United States but also set precedent for other immigrant groups with TPS designations that the administration might seek to terminate.
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5 Comments
This policy extension is certainly controversial. While some may see it as a necessary security measure, others view it as discriminatory. It will be interesting to see how this legal challenge plays out.
This policy decision and the ensuing lawsuit highlight the ongoing tensions around immigration and national security. I’m curious to see if the Biden administration will take a different approach moving forward.
The deadline looming for Somali TPS recipients is worrying. I hope the courts can provide clarity and a fair resolution that upholds the law while also considering the human impacts.
The Trump administration’s comments about Somali immigrants are concerning and appear to reflect bias. I hope the courts carefully consider the Constitutional issues raised in this lawsuit.
Temporary protected status is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. Forcing self-deportation or detention seems like a heavy-handed approach. I wonder if there are more humane solutions that address security concerns while respecting human rights.