At a glance
- A federal district court in Massachusetts has temporarily stayed the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, which was slated to end on March 17, 2026.
- Somalia TPS beneficiaries remain eligible for work authorization and protection from removal during the period of the temporary stay.
A closer look
On Friday, March 13, 2026, a federal district court in Massachusetts ordered a temporary hold on termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, which was set to end tomorrow, March 17, 2026. During the temporary stay, Somalia TPS beneficiaries will continue to be eligible for work authorization and have protection against removal/deportation based on TPS status. The case is African Communities Together v. Noem, 1:16-cv-11201 (D. Mass., filed Mar. 9, 2026).
In January, then Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had declined to extend the TPS designation for Somalia, which was set to expire on March 17, 2026. The court’s March 13 order temporarily delays TPS termination beyond the scheduled March 17 expiration date in order to preserve the status quo while the court considers the merits of the case. The administrative stay is slated to remain in effect during the parties’ proposed briefing schedule on plaintiffs’ motion to postpone TPS termination for Somalia and until further order of the court.
As of the time of this Alert, USCIS had not yet updated its Somalia TPS webpage to reflect the court decision. The Trump Administration is likely to seek a reversal of the stay.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
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