Washington: US President Donald Trump announced he will end the temporary status protecting Somali immigrants in Minnesota from deportation, claiming on Friday that his latest cut to refugee programs was a crime prevention measure.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was "hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota," while accusing "Somali gangs" of harming locals.

"Send them back to where they came from. It's OVER!" he added.

TPS protects its holders from deportation and allows them to work. It is granted to people deemed to be in danger if they return to their home countries because of war, natural disaster or other extraordinary circumstances.

The midwestern state of Minnesota hosts one of the largest Somali populations outside of the eastern African nation, which has endured decades of conflict.

According to the Congressional record, around 705 Somali individuals have approved TPS applications as of March 31, and "DHS estimated that approximately 4,300 individuals may become newly eligible for TPS" were it to be extended.

TPS was initially granted to Somalis in 1991, and most recently extended in July 2024 "due to conditions in Somalia that prevent individuals from safely returning," according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Trump administration, which is carrying out a sweeping immigration crackdown, has also moved to strip TPS for Afghans, Haitians, South Sudan, Venezuelans and nationals of several other countries.

The immigration crackdown has faced numerous legal challenges, and Trump's latest TPS dictate is likewise expected to go to court.

Under a separate new policy, the United States would slash the number of refugees it admits to 7,500 in fiscal 2026, down from more than 100,000 a year under Democratic president Joe Biden.

In his post targeting Somalis on Friday, Trump also slammed Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz, accusing him of "laundering activity," without offering evidence.

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