A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals living in the United States. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs lifted a stay that had previously blocked the Department of Homeland Security from ending TPS for Somalia, citing a June Supreme Court ruling that limited judicial review of such administrative actions. This decision could lead to deportation for those affected who do not have another legal basis to remain in the U.S.
The Trump administration announced its intention to terminate TPS for Somalia in January, arguing that conditions in the country had improved. The Supreme Court's ruling in Mullin v. Doe established that the TPS statute restricts judicial review of certain decisions regarding the termination of TPS designations. Plaintiffs challenging the termination have alleged that the administration's decision was influenced by bias against non-White immigrants. Despite acknowledging the plaintiffs' concerns, Judge Burroughs stated that she was bound by the Supreme Court's decision and lifted the stay, allowing the termination to proceed.
Currently, there are approximately 2,471 Somali nationals in the U.S. with TPS, and an additional 1,383 have pending TPS applications.