TPS for Somalia:
Court-Protected, Case Stayed Pending SCOTUS
A federal court has granted an administrative stay of the Trump administration’s termination of TPS for Somalia — preserving the status, work authorization, and protection from deportation of thousands of Somali TPS holders while the lawsuit continues. The case has been stayed pending Supreme Court decisions in the Haiti and Syria TPS cases (Miot v. Trump and Dahlia Doe v. Noem), but the administrative stay remains in full effect.
Case stayed pending Supreme Court decisions: In April 2026, the court stayed the Somalia TPS case in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to take up Miot v. Trump (Haiti) and Dahlia Doe v. Noem (Syria). The case is paused pending SCOTUS decisions. However, the March 13 administrative stay remains in full effect protecting Somali TPS holders. A hearing originally scheduled for May 4, 2026 has been postponed. CUSP will update this page as the case develops.
Administrative stay in effect — March 13, 2026: A federal judge in D. Massachusetts granted an administrative stay pausing the March 17, 2026 termination of TPS for Somalia. Somali TPS holders retain their status, work authorization, and protection from deportation while the court reviews the case. DHS must produce a certified administrative record by April 1, 2026. View the court order →
Important: This page provides general information about the Somalia TPS litigation and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. If you are a Somali TPS holder with questions about your specific situation, please consult a qualified immigration attorney. African Communities Together (ACT) or PANA may be able to connect you with legal resources.
- African Communities Together (ACT) — organizational plaintiff
- Partnership for Advancement of New Americans (PANA) — organizational plaintiff
- Individual Somali TPS holders — filed as a class action
- Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- United States of America
- Somalia — designated since 1991; termination set for March 17, 2026 (paused by administrative stay)
- Approximately 2,465 Somali TPS beneficiaries and applicants
Somalia was first designated for TPS in 1991 and has been continuously redesignated ever since — making it one of the longest-running TPS programs in history, spanning 35 years. The country continues to face clan-based violence, armed conflict, active terrorism, mass displacement, and the breakdown of essential infrastructure and services. The same extraordinary conditions that justified TPS in 1991 persist today.
This case is part of the Trump administration’s coordinated campaign to eliminate TPS protections for Black, Asian, Arab, and immigrant communities of color. Unlike other TPS cases, Trump has made specific, documented discriminatory statements targeting the Somali community — particularly in Minnesota — since November 2025. The complaint directly cites these statements as evidence of intentional discrimination, providing a stronger constitutional foundation than other pending cases.
- Declare the termination of TPS for Somalia unlawful
- Set aside or vacate the termination of Somalia’s TPS designation
- Stop all government agencies and employees from taking steps to implement the termination
The Somalia TPS fight is a direct expression of the Immigrant Movement’s North Star — the Five Freedoms. Somali TPS holders have built lives, raised families, started businesses, and strengthened communities across the United States. This case fights for their Freedom to Stay in the places they call home, their Freedom to Work with dignity and security, and their Freedom to Thrive — to make decisions about their own lives, futures, and communities. The administration’s 60-day termination notice, racial animus, and failure to consult or conduct a genuine country conditions review are not just legal violations. They are an attack on the vision of a movement that believes all people have inherent dignity and value.
The lawsuit challenges the termination of TPS for Somalia on two grounds: violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) violations
Constitutional claims
Somalia’s 35-year designation reflects the ongoing reality on the ground: a country still experiencing active armed conflict, widespread displacement, food insecurity, and the breakdown of essential services. The administration’s decision ignored this record entirely. The pattern of terminations targeting non-white, non-European communities — and in Somalia’s case, specific documented statements targeting Somalis by name — demonstrates that race and discriminatory animus, not country conditions, drove the decision.
- Somali TPS holders currently retain their status, work authorization, and protection from deportation and detention by court order. The March 13 administrative stay means your protections remain in place while the case is reviewed.
- TPS beneficiaries’ work authorization remains valid even if the card appears expired. African Communities Together (ACT) will provide letters explaining the court order for use with employers and state DMVs.
- For information on knowing and exercising your rights in encounters with immigration enforcement in the U.S., review the content available at wehaverights.us, 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, 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.
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.” Even with the administrative stay in place, it is wise to be prepared.
You can learn more about emergency planning through these resources:
For support with mental-health-related needs during this time of uncertainty, here are some potential resources:
The litigation is ongoing. The administrative stay remains in effect, protecting Somali TPS holders. The case has been stayed pending Supreme Court decisions in the Haiti and Syria cases. Follow ACT, PANA, and CUSP for the most up-to-date information as the case proceeds.