Somali Immigrants Sue US Government Over TPS Termination

A group of Somali immigrants and advocacy organisations has filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump over plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, a move that could lead to the deportation of more than 1,000 people.

The complaint, filed in a federal court in Boston on March 9, argues that the decision was procedurally flawed and motivated by discriminatory intent. The plaintiffs include four Somali nationals and two advocacy groups — African Communities Together and the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans.

TPS allows migrants from countries affected by conflict, natural disasters or persecution to live and work legally in the United States without the risk of deportation. Somalia first received TPS designation in 1991 during its civil war, and the programme was most recently extended in 2024.

The Trump administration announced earlier this year its intention to end the protection. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued that security and living conditions in Somalia had improved sufficiently to allow migrants to return.

The lawsuit also references controversial remarks attributed to Donald Trump about Somali migrants, statements that have drawn widespread criticism both in the United States and internationally.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, 1,082 Somali nationals currently hold TPS, while more than 1,300 additional applications remain under review. The decision is part of a broader policy effort to end TPS protections for migrants from several countries, including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Cameroon and Haiti.

The United States is home to over 260,000 people of Somali descent, many residing in Minnesota, where the Somali-American community has become increasingly active in public life and politics.

Source: Newstimehub