US judge clears way for Trump to end Somalis’ deportation protections

A federal judge in Boston allowed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to terminate the Temporary Protected Status designation for Somalia on Friday, clearing the way for nearly 1,100 Somalis to lose legal protections against deportation. This followed the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling, under President Donald Trump's administration, to end similar protections for thousands of individuals from Haiti and Syria.

The Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority decision limited judges' ability to review Department of Homeland Security efforts to end TPS designations for 13 countries. Two other judges recently allowed the administration to end TPS for South Sudan and Myanmar, with Ethiopia being the only other country's TPS designation yet to be blocked by a judge.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had earlier announced plans to end TPS for Somalis, citing improvements in Somalia's conditions despite ongoing conflict with al-Shabaab militants. However, a judge blocked Noem's decision last March on behalf of four Somalis and two advocacy groups, arguing the administration's move was biased against non-white immigrants.

After the Supreme Court's ruling, Burroughs issued a new order temporarily blocking the end of Somalia's TPS while considering whether to allow the plaintiffs to challenge DHS action.