In a sharply controversial move, Donald Trump announced he is immediately terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in Minnesota. He claimed on Truth Social that Somali gangs are “terrorizing” the state and alleged that “billions of dollars” are missing due to widespread fraud and money laundering — accusing Minnesota, under Democratic Governor Tim Walz, of being a “hub” for illicit financial activity.
Trump’s declaration is tied to allegations emerging from investigative reports that link welfare fraud in Minnesota to the Somali community. Some conservative analysts point to the Feeding Our Future scandal, in which federal prosecutors charged dozens of people over massive COVID‑era food program fraud, as evidence of systemic exploitation. Trump and his supporters suggest that some of the misappropriated funds could have been sent back to Somalia — possibly even benefiting al‑Shabab, though these claims remain politically charged.
The reaction in Minnesota has been swift and sharp. Governor Walz denounced the move as a broad attack on an entire community, calling it a “distraction” tactic. Legal experts have raised doubts about the legality of Trump’s approach: under current immigration law, TPS protections are set at the national, not state, level, and terminating them typically requires formal procedures — such as notice in the Federal Register. Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, has said he’s “exploring all options,” calling Trump’s move bigoted and unlawful.
Community leaders expressed fear that the decision could inflame xenophobia. Jaylani Hussein of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American‑Islamic Relations warned that targeting Somalis specifically sends a deeply troubling message, given the already large and established Somali population in the state. Congress’s own data suggests the number of Somali nationals under TPS is very small — only around 705 people nationwide, far fewer than the size of Minnesota’s larger Somali‑American community.
Critics also doubt the veracity of Trump’s narrative: while fraud prosecutions in Minnesota are real, legal experts note that many Somali Minnesotans are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, not TPS holders, meaning the announcement could be more rhetorical than practical. Some argue this is part of a broader pattern of using anti‑immigrant and Islamophobic rhetoric for political gain.
In short, Trump’s move to rescind TPS for Somalis in Minnesota has sparked significant backlash and legal scrutiny. While it’s framed as a law‑and‑order response to fraud and crime, many see it as a politically charged tactic that unfairly stigmatizes a minority community. The situation raises serious questions about the limits of presidential authority in immigration policy, the treatment of Somali‑American citizens, and how immigrant communities are portrayed in political discourse.
