DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Somalia

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation will end on March 17, 2026.

Under this rule, Somali nationals with TPS will lose their legal status and work permits on that date unless they obtain another lawful status. As DHS explained in the Federal Register, the Secretary “determined that Somalia no longer continues to meet the conditions for designation for Temporary Protected Status” and thus must terminate the TPS designation effective March 17, 2026.

The termination of Somalia’s TPS is part of a broader policy shift: officials have urged affected TPS holders to depart the United States voluntarily or adjust status by the March 2026 deadline.

History of TPS for Somalia

Somalia was first designated for TPS in the early 1990s, during that country’s devastating civil war. On September 16, 1991, the U.S. Attorney General granted TPS to Somalia for 12 months, recognizing that conditions in Somalia at the time – widespread armed conflict and humanitarian crisis – prevented nationals from safely returning home.

Since that original designation, DHS has extended or redesignated Somalia’s TPS every year to allow Somali beneficiaries to remain in safety. For example, Somalia’s TPS was re‐designated and extended in May 2012 (citing ongoing armed conflict) and again in January 2017 due to continued violence and humanitarian needs. In fact, until this recent announcement, Somalia’s TPS was one of the longest‐standing active TPS programs.

TPS provides work authorization and protection from deportation, but it does not lead to a green card or citizenship. It is meant to be temporary. Over the years, Somali TPS beneficiaries (now numbering in the low thousands) have lived and worked in the U.S. under this humanitarian program.

But by law, DHS must review country conditions regularly; and if the Secretary finds the conditions have improved or are no longer “extraordinary and temporary,” the designation must end. That review has now happened, and DHS concluded that Somalia no longer meets TPS criteria.

Reason for Termination of TPS for Somalia

DHS publicly explained that recent improvements in Somalia – along with other considerations – underpin the decision to end TPS.

In the Federal Register, DHS noted that the intensity of armed conflict in Somalia has changed: current levels of violence “no longer constitutes an ongoing armed conflict,” and Somali nationals can generally return in safety. In other words, while Somalia still faces insecurity, DHS concluded that the acute emergency conditions of the 1990s and 2000s are no longer present at the same scale.

At the same time, DHS cited national security, public safety, and fraud concerns. The agency stated that “continued national security and public safety risks,” combined with “fraud and foreign policy considerations,” collectively show that Somalia “no longer meets the statutory basis for Temporary Protected Status.”.

In her statement, Secretary Noem echoed this assessment: “Temporary means temporary. Country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status,” she said.

In short, DHS believes that the extraordinary country conditions that justified TPS in the first place have abated, so the protection must end as required by law.

When Will Enforcement of Termination Begin?

The termination becomes legally effective on March 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (local time). Until then, Somali TPS beneficiaries remain protected. In fact, DHS has implemented a 60-day “orderly transition” period: even Somali TPS work permits that were expiring in late 2025 have been automatically extended through March 17, 2026. This gives holders a bit of extra time to prepare.

After March 17, 2026, however, Somali TPS beneficiaries will lose their status and employment authorization. DHS explicitly notes that “Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under TPS will no longer be valid” after the termination. In other words, Somali TPS holders cannot legally work in the U.S. past that date, and their permission to stay will expire.

At that point, they become subject to immigration enforcement like any unauthorized immigrant. Thus, unless a Somali national has secured another legal status (such as asylum, a visa, or adjustment of status) before March 17, they would have to depart or face removal.

DHS and USCIS have emphasized this deadline. An official DHS notice points out that Somali TPS holders “will be required to depart the U.S. by the termination date unless they secure another lawful status”. In practice, that means that starting March 18, 2026, Somali nationals who remain without status could be placed in removal proceedings.

Employers should also note that they must stop honoring TPS-based I‑9 employment authorization after the cutoff date. In short, the clock is ticking: the protections end on March 17, 2026, and enforcement can begin immediately afterward.

What Happens When TPS Ends?

Once Somalia’s TPS ends, affected individuals will face these key changes:

• Loss of Legal Status: Somali TPS holders will no longer have legal permission to stay in the U.S. They revert to the status they had prior to TPS (typically, none). Without another status, they become “unauthorized” immigrants and could be subject to detention and removal.
• Work Authorization Expires: Any Employment Authorization Document issued under Somali TPS will expire on March 17, 2026. Employers must re‐verify work authorization and cannot continue to employ someone based solely on the old TPS card after that date.
• Departure Requirement: DHS will expect Somali nationals to depart voluntarily by the deadline unless they have obtained a new visa or relief. Technically, if someone remains unlawfully after March 17, they could face future bars to re-entry (typically 3- or 10-year bans based on unauthorized presence).
• Enforcement Priority: Historically, DHS has indicated that TPS terminees may become enforcement priorities. Indeed, U.S. officials have publicly “urged TPS holders whose status will lapse to self-deport”. This means that Somali TPS holders should take proactive steps to leave or adjust status, rather than waiting to be apprehended by ICE.

Some Somali nationals may qualify for other immigration options (such as asylum or family- or employment-based visas). Individuals should carefully explore those possibilities before the TPS end date. (See below for a brief note on other options.) But in any case, from March 18, 2026 onward, there is no longer any CPS-based stay in place.

How Somali Nationals Can Self-Deport

To avoid forced removal and future bans, Somali nationals whose TPS is ending should plan to leave voluntarily(commonly called “self-deporting”).

DHS even encourages this: the agency noted that Somali TPS holders “will be required to depart” if they do not gain another status, and publicly “urged TPS holders … to self-deport, warning that they will be found, arrested and deported” if they remain.

Here are key steps for arranging a voluntary departure:

• Prepare to Leave by March 17, 2026. Mark your calendar: by midnight on March 17, your TPS ends. Make travel plans well before then. Leaving earlier avoids last-minute rushes and complications.
• Consider CBP’s “Project Homecoming.” The U.S. government has a program called Project Homecoming that uses the CBP Home mobile app to facilitate voluntary departure. Eligible noncitizens can use the app to schedule an appointment to leave the U.S. In fact, the program offers incentives: DHS advertises that it will provide a $1,000 payment and airfare assistance to eligible immigrants who use the CBP Home app to depart. Importantly, TPS holders are eligible. (A DHS FAQ lists people given parole or TPS as those who can use the app.) Through CBP Home, participants typically get expedited processing at a border checkpoint or airport and documentation of their departure, avoiding a formal removal order.
• Use the CBP Home App (Optional). Download the CBP Home mobile app (available from U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and follow its instructions to request a voluntary departure appointment. It asks for basic biographic info, a photo, and details of your intended departure. Once approved, you will be assigned a port of departure (such as a land border or airport) and a date. At that appointment, you will surrender your travel documents and receive the cash payment and travel assistance. Afterward, you cannot re-enter legally for a long time (usually 10 years), so plan carefully.
• Return by Other Means. You may simply book an exit flight or drive out of the U.S. on your own timeline – you are not required to use CBP Home. However, if you depart without CBP Home, U.S. authorities will still record your exit. If asked later about your time in the U.S., you must honestly state you left voluntarily. (Note: Leaving without CBP Home still triggers an automatic 5- or 10-year bar if you had more than 180 days of unlawful presence.)
• Consult an Immigration Attorney. Every situation is different. Before departing, it’s wise to speak with a qualified immigration lawyer. They can ensure you understand the consequences (e.g. re-entry bans) and discuss any other possible relief. For example, asylum might be an option if you fear returning to Somalia under current conditions.
• Other Immigration Options: Some may qualify to stay under other provisions. For instance, asylum seekers who have a credible fear of persecution can apply for asylum; victims of crime may be eligible for U visas; or family members of U.S. citizens or green card holders might pursue family petitions. If you have any pending applications (such as for a green card through family, or relief like VAWA, etc.), keep them up to date. (See our separate blog on alternative immigration options for a fuller discussion.)

Countries with Recent TPS Terminations

The decision to end TPS for Somalia follows a broader pattern of recent TPS terminations under the current administration. In just the past few years, DHS has moved to terminate TPS for dozens of countries, including many where TPS was longstanding. For example:

• Afghanistan: TPS was terminated effective July 14, 2025 (after the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal).
• Cameroon: Termination took effect on August 4, 2025.
• Nepal: TPS ended effective August 5, 2025.
• Haiti: TPS ended effective September 2, 2025 (though a court later stayed parts of this).
• Venezuela: The 2021 designation for Venezuela ended for most beneficiaries on November 7, 2025.
• (Other countries: DHS also announced TPS terminations for Ethiopia, Burma (Myanmar), Nicaragua, Honduras, South Sudan, Syria, etc., though litigation has affected some of these actions.)

In short, since early 2021 TPS protection has been rolled back in many cases. The Somali termination is the latest in this series.

What This Means for You

If you are a Somali national currently on TPS (or have a pending TPS application), here’s what you need to know:

• Status Ends March 17, 2026: After that date you will no longer have any valid U.S. immigration status, unless you manage to change status (for example, by obtaining a family-based green card, asylum, or another visa). Mark your calendars and make plans now.
• Work Authorization Ends: Your Employment Authorization Document (work permit) will expire on March 17, 2026. Employers must stop processing you in the I-9 system under TPS after that date. If you cannot adjust status before then, you will become ineligible for legal work.
• Leave or Adjust: You must either depart the U.S. or secure some other lawful status by the deadline. DHS expects Somali TPS holders to leave voluntarily; if you stay beyond that date without status, you could be placed in removal proceedings.
• Affected Population: DHS estimates about 2,500 Somali TPS beneficiaries (including some applicants) are affected. These individuals are spread around the U.S., with many living in Minnesota and other communities with large Somali-American populations. This rule puts all of them on a fixed clock to leave or change status.
• Family Members: Note that U.S.-citizen or permanent-resident family members may qualify you for family-based immigration. It is worth discussing any family relationships with an attorney, to see if a visa petition is possible.
• Legal Help: The consequences of missing the deadline can be severe (deportation and long bars to returning). If you have questions or possible paths forward (like asylum or special visas), consult an experienced immigration attorney immediately. This is not the time to rely on hearsay or social media – get real legal advice.

Conclusion

The termination of TPS for Somalia represents a major change for Somali immigrants who have relied on this protection for decades. As of March 17, 2026, those protections end: Somali TPS holders will lose their legal status and must either depart or find a new immigration status. DHS has made clear that the only lawful path to remain beyond that date is through some other visa or relief. For most, this means making concrete plans to return home or transition to another status.

Self-deportation via DHS’s CBP Home program offers one orderly path for departure. Others should explore all possible alternatives before the deadline (for example, asylum, family visas, or other forms of relief). Immigration law is complex, and consequences of missing a deadline are serious – we strongly advise anyone in this situation to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

The termination of Somali TPS is part of a broader shift: many TPS programs have been curtailed recently. If you or your loved ones are affected, stay informed. Keep track of official DHS and USCIS announcements, meet with attorneys, and make a plan. The coming months will be critical for those whose status is ending.

The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki

The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki provides trusted, compassionate, and strategic immigration representation to individuals and families navigating complex and fast-changing U.S. immigration policies.

Our firm has extensive experience assisting clients affected by the termination of Temporary Protected Status, including evaluating eligibility for alternative forms of relief such as asylum, family-based petitions, humanitarian visas, and adjustment of status.

We understand how disruptive and emotional these policy shifts can be, especially for long-standing community members and their families.

If you are a Somali national impacted by the end of TPS, timely legal guidance is critical. Our team is committed to helping you understand your options, prepare for critical deadlines, and make informed decisions about your future—whether that involves pursuing another lawful status or planning a voluntary departure. We approach every case with care, clarity, and a strong focus on protecting our clients’ rights at every step.