In a decisive move to uphold the rule of law and prioritize American interests, the Trump administration announced it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, effective March 17, 2026. The action affects 2,471 Somali nationals living in the U.S., including roughly 600 in Minnesota, as well as 1,383 pending cases. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was blunt: “Temporary means temporary,” emphasizing that the decision reflects both improved conditions in Somalia and the administration’s commitment to putting Americans first.
This policy shift comes amid heightened federal law enforcement activity in Minneapolis, where ICE and DHS agents have been cracking down on a massive fraud network primarily involving Somali migrants. The crackdown has included raids on businesses tied to the scheme and came in the wake of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who attempted to attack an ICE officer with her vehicle. Secretary Noem labeled Good a “domestic terrorist,” underscoring the threat federal agents face on the front lines.
As expected, left-wing Minnesota officials erupted in protest. Attorney General Keith Ellison immediately filed suit, calling the TPS termination “obviously targeting Minnesota for our diversity, our democracy, and our differences of opinion with the federal government,” and claiming it violated the Constitution and federal law. In a press conference, Ellison doubled down, accusing DHS agents of sowing “chaos and terror” across the Twin Cities—ignoring the reality that federal operations are aimed at enforcing the law and protecting taxpayers from massive fraud.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey unleashed another tirade against ICE, describing federal operations as “wild and crazy stuff” on CNN and dismissing Secretary Noem’s warnings as propaganda. Frey bizarrely claimed that Minneapolis is a “safe city” despite federal reports showing rising criminal activity and large-scale fraud, and absurdly counted the shooting incident involving Good as evidence of ICE making the city “less safe.”
“Because here’s the thing,” Frey ranted, “She’s calling Minneapolis, like this dystopian hellhole. You know how many shootings we’ve had so far this year? Two. And one of them was ICE—two shootings in a large city so far this entire year. And one of them is ICE.” Frey went on to defend the woman who attacked the ICE agent, repeating that the officer “recklessly” used power that “ended up in somebody dying,” a statement that contradicts video evidence and official accounts from federal law enforcement.
Secretary Noem, however, remained unflinching. She made it clear that TPS is a temporary measure and that Somalia’s current conditions no longer justify continued protection. “Allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests,” she said, adding that the administration will continue prioritizing Americans, taxpayer dollars, and public safety over appeasing radical political rhetoric.
The decision to end Somali TPS underscores a broader Trump administration strategy: enforce immigration law, restore order in sanctuary cities, and ensure federal programs do not incentivize fraud or lawlessness. While Minnesota’s far-left politicians howl, the administration is making clear that temporary protection is just that—temporary—and that American citizens come first.
This policy, combined with ongoing ICE operations in Minneapolis, signals that law enforcement will no longer be sidelined by politically motivated local leaders or radical protestors threatening federal officers. As DHS makes clear, when the law is on the line, there will be no compromises.
