Immigrant rights advocates have filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the US president's administration Donald Trump to end the legal protections enjoyed by approximately 1,100 Somali nationals in the United States.
The legal proceedings target the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted to Somali migrants. This program protects beneficiaries from deportation and allows them to work legally in the United States.
According to the announcement made in January by outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, this protection is set to end on March 17. The administration believes the situation in Somalia has improved, despite ongoing clashes between Somali government forces and militants from the Islamist group Al-Shabaab.
The complaint was filed by four Somali nationals and two immigrant advocacy organizations, African Communities Together and Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. The plaintiffs allege that the decision violates administrative rules and is based on discriminatory policy.
According to them, the measure is tainted by procedural irregularities and motivated by a predetermined political agenda, particularly because of public statements by Donald Trump criticizing Somali migrants.
The Trump administration has already initiated several procedures to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted to citizens of other countries. TPS, created by the U.S. Congress, is intended to temporarily protect people from countries affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other major crises.
