TPS for Somalia

RESOURCE SHEET FOR SOMALI TPS HOLDERS & APPLICANTS

The information below is presented for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need assistance finding legal help in Minnesota, please contact CAIR Minnesota. We are working to identify immigration attorneys who can assist TPS holders.

CURRENT SITUATION

  • On Friday, March 13, a federal judge temporarily paused the termination of Somalia’s TPS designation, which was set to take effect on March 17, 2026. You can access the Court’s order here. 
  • This temporary pause means that the termination of Somalia’s TPS designation will not take effect unless and until a further, contrary court order permits it to take effect. 
  • Under the March 13 order,  the TPS designation for Somalia remains legally valid. Beneficiaries of TPS for Somalia, as a matter of law, continue to have access to TPS status and related benefits (like work authorization).
  • The litigation team has asked the government to update relevant USCIS, E-Verify, and SAVE webpages to ensure the public is aware of the Court’s order and its meaning. If and when the government updates any of those webpages, we will notify you as soon as possible. 
  • In the meantime, the Court’s order may be used to demonstrate TPS beneficiaries’ and applicants’ continued access to TPS status and related benefits.

IMMEDIATE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE:

  1. Seek legal advice immediately about potential alternative pathways to immigration status in the U.S.
    1. Every case is different – get personalized immigration advice for your situation from a reputable and trustworthy attorney
    2. In Minnesota: Contact CAIR-MN for possible referrals to immigration attorneys: (612) 206-3360
    3. In Southern California: Contact Partnership for Advancement of New Americans (PANA) for possible referrals to immigration attorneys
    4. Contact African Communities Together (ACT) for possible referrals to immigration attorneys if you’re located elsewhere in the U.S. 
  2. Carry valid immigration-related documentation with you
    1. TPS work permit
    2. TPS approval notice
    3. Copy of the Court’s March 13, 2026, administrative stay order 
  3. Continue attending immigration court proceedings
    1. If you have pending immigration court cases, continue to attend all hearings
    2. Continue pursuing immigration applications and/or benefits for which you are eligible 
  4. Join the membership organizations that are among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit:
    1. African Communities Together (ACT): www.africans.us 
    2. Partnership for Advancement of New Americans (PANA): www.panasd.org 


NOW THAT THE TERMINATION OF SOMALIA’S TPS DESIGNATION IS PAUSED BY COURT ORDER

  • TPS beneficiaries and applicants’ work authorization remains valid even if the card appears expired
  • CUSP, ACT, AND PANA will prepare and circulate resources to help explain to employers and state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) what the court-ordered pause of the termination of TPS for Somalia means 
  • African Communities Together (ACT) will provide letters explaining the Court order, which can be used to educate employers and DMVs about the current status of the law

***Because the future of TPS for Somalia remains uncertain, consider the following:***

PREPARE A PERSONAL AND FAMILY SAFETY PLAN:

  • For some people, planning ahead for the possibility of immigration enforcement can help to restore a sense of personal agency in the face of uncertainties and risk. This is called “emergency planning.”
  • You can learn more about emergency planning through the following online resources:
    • We Have Rights offers guidance on creating an emergency preparedness plan.
    • CLINIC offers resources and guidance about family planning for non-citizens at risk of immigration enforcement, including resources for how to designate a guardian for your dependents in the event you are separated and can no longer care for them.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:

  • For information on knowing and exercising your rights in encounters with immigration enforcement in the U.S., review the content available here, prepared by We Have Rights and available in a variety of languages.
  • Understand that if you leave the U.S. because the termination of TPS for Somalia does take effect at some point, then you may not be able to lawfully reenter the U.S. on TPS status, even if a court subsequently reinstates TPS for Somalia.
    • Before considering self-deportation using the CBP Home app, review information about your rights, such as this content from the National Immigration Law Center. 

AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:

For support with mental-health-related needs, here are some potential resources:

STAY INFORMED: