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54m ago

U.S. Ends Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, Sets March 17 Departure Deadline

DHS says Somalia no longer meets TPS criteria, a stance at odds with a State Department “Do Not Travel” advisory.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem with the Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference to discuss ICE operations in New York City on January 8, 2026.
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Overview

  • White House and USCIS announcements confirm TPS for Somalis will lapse on March 17, with officials warning beneficiaries to leave or face arrest and deportation.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cited improved conditions and the program’s temporary nature, saying continued protections are not in the national interest.
  • Estimates of those affected vary, with DHS/USCIS-linked figures citing roughly 2,471 current TPS holders and 1,383 pending applications, while federal notices and prior research have reported lower counts.
  • The decision follows an enforcement surge focused on Minnesota’s Somali community, a new lawsuit from Minneapolis and St. Paul, and protests after the Jan. 7 fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
  • The move extends a broader push to roll back TPS for multiple countries, and further court challenges are anticipated given recent judicial stays in related cases.