Lawsuit Challenges End of Protections for Somali Immigrants

Immigrant rights groups file suit to stop Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status for Somalis

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Immigrant rights advocates have filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1,100 Somali immigrants living in the United States. The lawsuit argues the administration's decision to end TPS for Somalia was driven by discriminatory bias against non-white immigrants, not an objective assessment of conditions in the country.

Why it matters

The ending of TPS for Somalis would force them to return to a country the U.S. State Department advises against traveling to due to ongoing crime and civil unrest. The lawsuit alleges the administration's decision is part of a broader crackdown on immigration, particularly targeting Somali communities in the U.S.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in Boston federal court by four Somali immigrants and two advocacy groups - African Communities Together and Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. It challenges the Department of Homeland Security's decision to end TPS for Somalia, arguing the move was procedurally flawed and driven by the administration's discriminatory bias against non-white immigrants. The lawsuit cites past statements by President Trump describing Somalis as "garbage" and "low IQ people" who "contribute nothing."

  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced in January that TPS for Somalis would end on March 17, 2026.
  • The lawsuit was filed on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President whose administration is ending Temporary Protected Status for Somali immigrants.

Kristi Noem

The outgoing U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary who announced the end of TPS for Somalis.

African Communities Together

An advocacy group that is a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the end of TPS for Somalis.

Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans

An advocacy group that is a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the end of TPS for Somalis.

Omar Farah

The executive director of the legal group Muslim Advocates, which is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“The termination of TPS for Somalia is racism masking as immigration policy.”

— Omar Farah, Executive Director, Muslim Advocates (Reuters)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to grant a preliminary injunction to block the administration from ending TPS for Somalis on March 17.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing legal battles over the Trump administration's efforts to roll back humanitarian immigration protections, which critics argue are driven by discriminatory policies targeting non-white immigrant communities.