Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s announcement to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, particularly those in Minnesota, asserting that Trump lacks unilateral authority to end the program and misunderstands U.S. immigration law. In a fiery X post and public statements, Omar dismissed the move as ineffective against U.S. citizens like herself while rallying community leaders at the Minnesota Capitol on November 23, 2025, alongside Attorney General Keith Ellison and others. She emphasized that “even students know the limits of presidential authority,” framing Trump’s action as overreach amid fears of deportations targeting her district’s Somali enclave.
Trump’s November 21 Truth Social post declared TPS “immediately” over for Somalis, citing Minnesota as a “hub of fraudulent money laundering” linked to billions in missing child nutrition funds and Somali gangs terrorizing residents. The program, active since 1991 due to Somalia’s civil war, shields about 700 nationwide—over 400 in Minnesota—from deportation until March 2026. DHS holds designation power, but terminations require 60-day notices and face legal hurdles, as Omar highlighted.
Omar’s Fiery Defense and Community Backlash
Omar responded defiantly to a Trump supporter’s taunt—”It’s over @IlhanMN go back to where you came from!”—stating, “I am a citizen and so are the vast majority of Somalis in this country. Good luck celebrating a policy change that really doesn’t have much impact on the Somalis you love to hate.” At the Capitol rally, she joined DFL leaders decrying the order as an “Islamophobic political assault,” warning of family separations despite most Somalis (80K-100K in Minnesota) being naturalized. Critics like Gateway Pundit speculated on her own immigration history amid al-Shabaab funding scandals tied to Feeding Our Future fraud.
Omar argued TPS decisions demand congressional input, not executive fiat, echoing legal experts’ doubts on Trump’s “immediate” enforcement. Her district, epicenter of the U.S.’s largest Somali community since 1979 refugee waves, mobilized vigils and attorney consultations.
Legal Framework and Trump’s Broader Agenda
TPS, created by 1990 law, lets DHS designate nations for 6-18 months based on crises like war—Somalia’s extended repeatedly. Presidents can terminate with notice, but courts often intervene, as in Trump’s first-term slashes upheld variably by SCOTUS. Omar’s rebuke aligns with ACLU challenges, questioning due process amid 4,000+ Somalis with removal orders.
This fits Trump’s 2025 immigration blitz: TPS revoked for Venezuelans, Haitians, South Sudanese; green cards from Somalia and 18 “countries of concern” under review. He vowed “permanent pauses” on “third-world” migration, blaming Gov. Tim Walz for fraud enabling terror financing.
Political Ramifications and Community Fears
Omar’s stance galvanizes Democrats pre-2026 midterms, positioning her as TPS defender despite citizenship immunity. Polls show GOP base (65%) backs restrictions; her rhetoric fuels MAGA mockery. Minneapolis businesses brace for disruptions in meatpacking, rideshares; schools deploy crisis teams.
Trump’s order tests enforcement: ICE prioritizes criminals, but rhetoric spikes fears. Somali leaders like CAIR’s Jaylani Hussein predict lawsuits delaying deportations.
Omar’s comments underscore divides: enforcement vs. humanitarianism. As legal battles loom, her district—hit hardest—embodies stakes. Trump’s playbook persists: announce boldly, litigate endlessly. For Somalis, uncertainty reigns.
