Shockwaves hit Somali communities across the U.S. as Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem drops the hammer on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), giving affected nationals just until March 17 to pack their bags and head home.
The bombshell decision surfaced Tuesday—no press release, no Federal Register notice, just a swift confirmation to Newsweek, leaving advocates scrambling and unanswered questions hanging.
The timing couldn’t be more dramatic, with Minnesota’s Somali population embroiled in scrutiny following a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal. President Trump has never minced words when it comes to Somali immigrants, calling for tougher measures and slamming the TPS program as ripe for abuse. The administration has long argued that TPS—originally designed as a short-term fix—has morphed into a never-ending loophole that keeps thousands in the country.
Official numbers? Depends who you ask. Fox sources within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report 2,471 Somalis currently enjoying TPS protection, with another 1,383 hoping their pending applications get a green light. In contrast, Congressional figures from March 2025 slash the estimate to just 705 holders but suggest as many as 4,300 Somalis could make a bid for status.
Fadumo Yussuf and her daughter Asli Mohamed, at right, attend the annual U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony at Strawbery Bank Museum in Portsmouth, for their husband and father Khamis Khamis of Somalia on July 4, 2017. 2017july Newcitizen Rich
It all started in 1991, when Somalia was tearing itself apart in civil war and TPS became a lifeline. Fast-forward nearly three decades and the program has been renewed a staggering 27 times. Previous DHS bosses looked the other way, citing ongoing chaos. Now, Noem is closing the book, telling Newsweek: “Temporary means temporary. Somalia no longer qualifies under the law. Keeping Somalis here any longer isn’t in America’s best interest. We’re putting citizens first.”
But here’s the twist—the U.S. State Department still labels Somalia as a “Level 4: do not travel” risk, highlighting violent crime, terror threats and unrest. Despite that, officials claim things have shaped up enough for safe return—a tough sell for many fearing danger and upheaval.
Unless lawyers mount a last-minute challenge, TPS for Somalia officially expires March 17. The countdown for thousands has begun—and the debate is only heating up.
