Minnesotans Vow to Fight Trump's Decision to End Somali Temporary Protected Status
In a move that has sparked outrage among the state's Somali-American community, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would be terminating temporary protected status (TPS) for Somalis in Minnesota. The decision, which takes effect immediately, has been met with fierce resistance from local elected officials and advocacy groups.
Trump claimed that Minnesota was a "hub of fraudulent money laundering activity" and vowed to send Somali immigrants back to their home country. However, community leaders say this rhetoric is unfair and divisive, putting Somalis at risk of increased targeting by immigration enforcement and demonization.
The TPS program allows people from countries with unstable conditions to live legally in the US. Somalia has been under TPS since 1991, receiving extensions dozens of times. The move is seen as a blatant attempt to target a specific ethnic group, which many consider un-American.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the US, and many residents are US citizens. Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman, has repeatedly condemned Trump's attacks on her community, saying they will not be intimidated by such rhetoric.
Local officials have vowed to fight the decision, with Attorney General Keith Ellison stating that Trump's move is "legally problematic" and a potential distraction from the state's real issues, including an affordability crisis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also taken issue with Trump's approach, writing on X that it's "not surprising that the President has chosen to broadly target an entire community."
Community organizers are holding their ground, organizing potluck events and rallies to show solidarity with Somali-American residents. Khalid Omar, an organizer with interfaith group Isaiah, said, "If anyone, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity, committed fraud, they should be held accountable under the law as individuals. Collective punishment is wrong and racist, and using the actions of a few people to attack an entire community is un-American."
The move has sparked concern among Somali residents who will lose access to TPS, which would leave them vulnerable to deportation. Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, warned that this decision could have severe consequences for these individuals.
As tensions rise, Minnesotans are standing up against Trump's divisive rhetoric and fighting to protect their Somali-American community. The state will not stand idly by while a president targets an entire ethnic group.
In a move that has sparked outrage among the state's Somali-American community, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would be terminating temporary protected status (TPS) for Somalis in Minnesota. The decision, which takes effect immediately, has been met with fierce resistance from local elected officials and advocacy groups.
Trump claimed that Minnesota was a "hub of fraudulent money laundering activity" and vowed to send Somali immigrants back to their home country. However, community leaders say this rhetoric is unfair and divisive, putting Somalis at risk of increased targeting by immigration enforcement and demonization.
The TPS program allows people from countries with unstable conditions to live legally in the US. Somalia has been under TPS since 1991, receiving extensions dozens of times. The move is seen as a blatant attempt to target a specific ethnic group, which many consider un-American.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the US, and many residents are US citizens. Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman, has repeatedly condemned Trump's attacks on her community, saying they will not be intimidated by such rhetoric.
Local officials have vowed to fight the decision, with Attorney General Keith Ellison stating that Trump's move is "legally problematic" and a potential distraction from the state's real issues, including an affordability crisis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also taken issue with Trump's approach, writing on X that it's "not surprising that the President has chosen to broadly target an entire community."
Community organizers are holding their ground, organizing potluck events and rallies to show solidarity with Somali-American residents. Khalid Omar, an organizer with interfaith group Isaiah, said, "If anyone, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity, committed fraud, they should be held accountable under the law as individuals. Collective punishment is wrong and racist, and using the actions of a few people to attack an entire community is un-American."
The move has sparked concern among Somali residents who will lose access to TPS, which would leave them vulnerable to deportation. Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, warned that this decision could have severe consequences for these individuals.
As tensions rise, Minnesotans are standing up against Trump's divisive rhetoric and fighting to protect their Somali-American community. The state will not stand idly by while a president targets an entire ethnic group.
This decision is a clear example of xenophobic politics in action 
. Targeting a specific community with unsubstantiated claims of "fraudulent money laundering activity" is unacceptable and sends a chilling message to others who may be watching 
. The fact that Trump is using this tactic to distract from the state's real issues, such as affordability crisis, only highlights his attempt to manipulate public opinion 
. It's appalling that he would use divisive rhetoric to attack an entire community, especially one that has been living in Minnesota for decades and contributing positively to society 
. The response from local officials and community leaders is justified, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the courts 
.
, like what even is the point of targeting somalis? they're just trying to live a better life and provide for their families... it's so unfair that he's using his power to demonize them and make them feel unwelcome. i mean, minnesota is literally a hub of diversity and inclusion, we should be celebrating our differences not tearing each other down 
. this decision is a huge blow to the tps program and will cause so much harm to somali americans who are already struggling to make ends meet.
. let's not forget that trump's rhetoric is not only hurtful but also discriminatory 
so unfair! 
trump thinks he can just target one community like that? 
ilhan omar is speaking truth to power 
and khalid omar's words are EVERYTHING 
no collective punishment, no racism 
like what's next is he gonna start rounding up mexicans too?? 
i mean ilhan omar and tim walz r totally right though, this is so unamerican and hurtful to the ppl affected. somalis have been living in minnesota for years, paying taxes, contributing to society, and now trump just decides to kick them out? 
we need 2 stand up 4 our rights & show trumps that we won't be intimidated! 
? And yeah, it's a total low blow targeting an entire community like this, especially when you consider that most Somali-Americans are US citizens 
. The fact that he's using "fraudulent money laundering" as an excuse is just laughable 
. This is exactly the kind of divisive rhetoric that gets people all riled up and makes them forget about actual issues 
. It's just another example of his racist tendencies being exposed for all to see. And the fact that he's using Minnesota as an excuse is so ridiculous – like, we all know he's just trying to scare people into not speaking out against him.
. This decision is just a blatant attempt to intimidate and marginalize the Somali-American community in Minnesota, and it's disgusting.
.