Minnesota Officials Vow Fight Over Trump’s Somali TPS Plan
Minneapolis, MN — Local elected officials and community organizers across Minnesota are mobilizing to challenge former President Donald Trump’s recent declaration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis residing in the state. Trump’s announcement, made on his Truth Social platform last Friday, has ignited widespread concern and condemnation.
Trump’s Controversial Declaration
In a post that quickly circulated, Trump stated his intention to be “terminating, effective immediately” the special immigration status for Somalis in Minnesota. He further asserted that Minnesota was a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity,” concluding with the inflammatory remarks: “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!” This abrupt pronouncement has been met with immediate pushback from Minnesota’s diverse population and political landscape.
Community advocates have swiftly denounced the rhetoric, labeling it as inaccurate and dangerous. They warn that such broad accusations, smearing an entire ethnic group, not only create a climate of fear but also risk escalating targeting for immigration enforcement and further demonization of the Somali community. The former president’s statement comes amidst a backdrop of heightened scrutiny on state programs, following several high-profile fraud cases, some involving Somali residents. These incidents have been extensively amplified by right-wing media outlets.
Community Outcry and Legal Concerns
Adding fuel to the fire, a recent publication alleged that these fraudulent activities were inadvertently funding terrorist organizations in Somalia. This claim was subsequently elevated by Minnesota’s Republican members of Congress, who penned a letter seeking a federal investigation into the matter. However, local leaders emphasize the distinction between individual accountability and collective punishment.
“If anyone, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity, committed fraud, they should be held accountable under the law as individuals,” stated Khalid Omar, an organizer with the interfaith group ISAIAH. He added, “Collective punishment is wrong and racist, and using the actions of a few people to attack an entire community is un-American.”
Understanding Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration program designed to allow individuals from countries experiencing unsafe or unstable conditions to live and work legally in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for granting or removing TPS designation for specific nations. The Trump administration previously exercised this authority, for instance, by withdrawing TPS for Venezuela during his term, which began in January.
However, DHS has not yet officially removed Somalia from the list of countries designated for TPS. Crucially, the removal of TPS typically applies nationwide to all eligible individuals from a designated country, not to residents of a single state like Minnesota. This makes Trump’s promise to terminate TPS exclusively for Minnesota, and seemingly disconnected from the actual stability of Somalia, legally contentious and unprecedented. Experts suggest such a move would face significant legal challenges.
As the legal and political battle lines are drawn, Minnesota officials and community leaders are preparing for a robust defense of their Somali residents, asserting that due process and humanitarian principles must prevail over politically charged declarations. The fight to protect the legal status of Somalis in Minnesota is just beginning, promising a complex and closely watched legal and social struggle.
Source: The Guardian
