"Trump Ends Deportation Protections for Somali Immigrants in Minnesota, Citing Gangs and Fraud"
President Donald Trump has announced that he is ending deportation protections for Somali immigrants in Minnesota, effective immediately. The move comes without warning or evidence, with the president claiming that "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State" and that the state has become a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.
The decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from Somalia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Syria, and South Sudan. However, this move faces significant legal challenges, particularly in Minnesota where Somali immigrants make up the largest population.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has responded strongly to the decision, calling it a "political attack" on the Somali community driven by Islamophobic rhetoric. Walz has defended his state's response to the scandal, and Republican lawmakers have echoed Trump's claims about fraud and gang activity.
The move has sparked widespread condemnation from civil rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which describes the decision as a "political attack" that targets an entire community. The group is urging President Trump to reverse his decision.
Under the TPS program, Somali immigrants were granted temporary protection from deportation in 2012 due to ongoing instability in their home country. However, the designation was set to expire on March 17, 2026. With this move, over 700 Somali nationals in the US will now face deportation unless they can secure alternative status.
The decision has significant implications for the hundreds of Somali immigrants living in Minnesota, many of whom have built lives and communities in the state over several decades. The move is also seen as part of a broader effort by Trump to crack down on perceived threats from immigrant communities, including Muslims.
President Donald Trump has announced that he is ending deportation protections for Somali immigrants in Minnesota, effective immediately. The move comes without warning or evidence, with the president claiming that "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State" and that the state has become a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.
The decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from Somalia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Syria, and South Sudan. However, this move faces significant legal challenges, particularly in Minnesota where Somali immigrants make up the largest population.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has responded strongly to the decision, calling it a "political attack" on the Somali community driven by Islamophobic rhetoric. Walz has defended his state's response to the scandal, and Republican lawmakers have echoed Trump's claims about fraud and gang activity.
The move has sparked widespread condemnation from civil rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which describes the decision as a "political attack" that targets an entire community. The group is urging President Trump to reverse his decision.
Under the TPS program, Somali immigrants were granted temporary protection from deportation in 2012 due to ongoing instability in their home country. However, the designation was set to expire on March 17, 2026. With this move, over 700 Somali nationals in the US will now face deportation unless they can secure alternative status.
The decision has significant implications for the hundreds of Somali immigrants living in Minnesota, many of whom have built lives and communities in the state over several decades. The move is also seen as part of a broader effort by Trump to crack down on perceived threats from immigrant communities, including Muslims.