In recent weeks, the United States has uncovered extensive fraud committed by many Somalis in the state of Minnesota, who have scammed large sums of money. President Trump, who has previously said he does not want them in the country, has now had enough of the cheating.
The Trump administration is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, which affects several thousand Somalis currently living in the US and several hundred currently residing in Minnesota under this protection. Somali migrants with TPS will be required to leave the country by March 17.
“Temporary means temporary,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to Fox News.
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“The conditions in Somalia have improved to the degree that the country no longer meets the legal requirements for temporary protected status.”
“Additionally, allowing Somali citizens to temporarily stay in the US goes against our national interests. We put Americans first.”
Fraud Amounting to Billions
According to sources at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, there are currently 2,471 Somali citizens in the US with TPS, of whom 1,383 have ongoing TPS applications.
The Trump administration’s move comes as the United States Department of Homeland Security continues the search for illegal immigrants in Minnesota after massive billion-dollar frauds have been uncovered.
Somalis were granted temporary protected status in 1991 as a result of an ongoing civil war. President Joe Biden last extended the protection in September 2024.
No More Money for Illegal Immigrants
In addition to deporting Somalis, Trump has also decided to cut off government funding to so-called sanctuary cities and states where illegal immigrants are protected from federal authorities.
“As of February 1, we will not make any payments to sanctuary cities or states with sanctuary policies because they do everything they can to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens,” Trump said.
“It breeds fraud and crime and all other problems that arise, so we will not make payments to anyone who supports sanctuary cities.”
Sanctuary cities often have policies that limit the ability of local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.