Maryland AG Joins Coalition Challenging Termination of Somali Immigrant Protections

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in filing a legal brief to oppose the federal government’s effort to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Somalia. The amicus brief, submitted in the case of African Communities Together v. Noem, argues that revoking TPS for Somali nationals would cause significant humanitarian and economic damage, and it urges the court to halt the termination.

The TPS program serves as a vital safety net, providing humanitarian protection for individuals who cannot return to their home countries due to unsafe conditions, while also allowing them to live and work in the United States. This legal action contends that the termination of TPS for Somalis is unlawful and without a sound basis. The brief highlights that many Somali TPS recipients in Maryland are integral members of their communities, contributing to the workforce in essential sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, construction, transportation, and public service. Ending their protected status would disrupt these contributions and potentially lead to the separation of families.

The push to terminate Somalia’s TPS designation stems from a social media post in November 2025 indicating an immediate termination, followed by an official announcement in January 2026. The Department of Homeland Security cited that allowing Somali nationals to remain in the U.S. temporarily would be contrary to the national interest. As of January 2026, there were 2,471 Somali nationals with TPS in the United States, with an additional 1,383 pending applications.

Somalia was first granted TPS in 1991 due to “extraordinary and temporary conditions.” For over three decades since, the country has experienced ongoing civil war, resulting in widespread death, child conscription, extrajudicial killings, and severe human rights abuses, leading to the continuous renewal of its TPS designation. The attorneys general argue that the claim that parts of Somalia are safe for return is not supported by evidence, pointing to the State Department’s Level 4 travel advisory, which strongly advises against travel due to pervasive crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and other dangers.

The termination of TPS would force Somali nationals to face difficult choices: return to a dangerous homeland alone, potentially separating them from their U.S. citizen children, or take their children to an unfamiliar and perilous country. Alternatively, they could remain in the U.S. without legal status, facing constant fear of removal and the inability to work legally. The coalition emphasizes that such a revocation would impose irreparable harm on both the individuals and the states where they reside and contribute.

The states joining Maryland in this legal effort include California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office

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