Rep. Ilhan Omar is forcefully pushing back against President Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to immediately end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in Minnesota — a move that has stunned and rattled one of the state’s most vibrant immigrant communities.
Speaking to reporters, Omar accused the president of using fearmongering and falsehoods to justify a policy that could upend hundreds of lives overnight.
“In this country, we do not blame the lawlessness of an individual on a whole community,” she said. “There is not a single piece of evidence that the president or his ‘coonies’ have put forth showing that Minnesota taxpayers have aided terrorism. That language is dangerous.”
A Community on Edge
The announcement sent shockwaves through Minneapolis’s Somali community, prompting hundreds to gather at Karmel Mall — a cultural and economic anchor for Somali Minnesotans. Community figures, including Ali Gaashaan and organizer Khalid Omar, urged calm, unity, and legal preparedness.
“We’re not here by accident. We’re here to stay,” one attendee told Fox 9 Minneapolis, echoing a sentiment widely shared in the room. But fear remains high. Minnesota is home to roughly 500 Somali TPS holders — more than two-thirds of all Somali TPS recipients nationwide.
Many expect the policy to face immediate legal challenges. Under federal law, any termination of TPS cannot take effect sooner than 60 days after official publication by the Secretary of Homeland Security. As of now, no such notice has been issued.
Omar Says Trump Is Using “Shameful” Rhetoric
Omar’s criticism went far beyond the policy decision itself. She accused Trump of reviving the type of dangerous stereotypes that fueled his first presidential campaign.
“We are sick and tired of the president waking up one day and deciding to put forth falsehoods and demonize whole communities,” Omar said. “We’ve seen him say Asians were eating cats and dogs. We’ve seen his vice president repeat those lies. We’ve seen the media run those headlines as if they were fact. That is shameful. That is ignorant.”
Her warning was stark: language like this doesn’t just inflame political debate — it puts real people at risk:
“It makes us look like a stupid nation that traffics in lies. It puts Somali lives in danger not only in Minnesota but across the country. We are better than that as Americans.”
A Program Rooted in Crisis
Somalis have been eligible for TPS since 1991, when President George H.W. Bush granted protections to those fleeing civil war and state collapse. For decades, TPS holders have legally lived and worked in the United States, building families, businesses, and communities.
Friday’s announcement — abrupt, sweeping, and framed around allegations of “fraud” — left many feeling blindsided.
“This is un-American,” one community leader said at Friday’s gathering. “We are people of resilience. We are brave. And we will face this moment together.”
What Comes Next
There is no timeline yet for a formal revocation of TPS, and legal experts say affected individuals should immediately consult immigration attorneys to understand their options.
Meanwhile, Somali community members say they will continue organizing — and continue pushing back.
“Our neighbors are with us,” said Khalid Omar. “Minnesotans are with us. And we’re all together in this fight.”
As uncertainty builds, one reality is clear: the political decision announced in Washington has landed with full force on the streets of Minneapolis.
