Rep. Ilhan Omar didn’t mince words this week as she stepped in front of cameras at Minnesota’s State Capitol, speaking directly—and defiantly—to President Donald Trump after he claimed he could “immediately” terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis in Minnesota specifically.

Her message?
Trump’s threat wasn’t just cruel—it was legally impossible.

“When the president tweets as if he has the authority to terminate TPS for Somalis in Minnesota,” Omar said on November 24, surrounded by Somali American community leaders, “even little kids in eighth grade know that is not an authority the president has, or can wield.”

Her comment, dripping with controlled exasperation, instantly went viral—both celebrated by her supporters and furiously dissected in Trump-aligned media. But Omar’s underlying point wasn’t rhetoric. It was civics 101.

Trump’s Tweet, Omar’s Rebuttal, and the Constitutional Collision

Trump’s November 22 Truth Social post accused Minnesota’s Somali community of widespread fraud, gang activity, and funneling money to foreign terrorist groups—then declared he was “terminating TPS for Somalis in Minnesota” and would “send them back to where they came from.”

The problem?

TPS is a federal immigration designation under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
It can only be issued, renewed, or terminated—nationwide—by the Homeland Security Secretary, not the president’s social media account.

And it must follow a statutory process:
• a review of country conditions
• federal register notice
• 60-day warning period
• nationwide application

It cannot target one state.
It cannot target one community.
It cannot be ended overnight.
And it cannot be done by tweet.

Omar drove that home with precision:
“It is unfortunate that we are led by a president who does not understand the laws of this land.”

What the Law Actually Says: Omar Is Right

Temporary Protected Status for Somalia—first granted in 1991 due to ongoing conflict—currently protects roughly 700 Somali nationals nationwide, with an estimated 300–500 in Minnesota.

TPS was extended under the Biden administration through March 17, 2026.

No matter how forcefully Trump posts on Truth Social, legally:

TPS cannot be terminated for “Somalis in Minnesota” only.
TPS cannot be terminated instantly.
TPS cannot be terminated without DHS process.

Even DHS Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged publicly that her agency must “review Somalia’s designation per legal requirements,” signaling that Trump’s claim was political posturing, not policy.

To the Somali Minnesotans gathered around her, Omar’s message was reassuring:
“You are here. You are protected. Law is on your side.”

A Community Already Under Threat

The Minnesota Somali community—the largest in the country at roughly 87,000 residents—has endured a rapid-fire series of provocations in the weeks since Trump returned to office:

• A barrage of accusations linking Somali remittances to terrorism
• DHS press releases highlighting small fraud cases as evidence of “Somali extremism”
• Calls from far-right commentators for mass deportations
• A rise in threats and harassment targeting Somali-owned businesses

At the press conference, community leaders described the fear washing over neighborhoods—elderly refugees calling their representatives, parents afraid to send children to school, new citizens worried their passports might somehow be invalidated.

AG Keith Ellison called Trump’s threat “reckless and illegal.”
State Sen. Zaynab Mohamed labeled it “political scapegoating of an entire community.”
Organizers held a solidarity potluck afterward, insisting they would not be intimidated.

Omar, herself a refugee from Somalia, reminded the crowd:
“We do not blame the lawlessness of an individual on a whole community.”

Republicans Fire Back, Critics Revive Old Conspiracies

Trump loyalists quickly attacked Omar online, recycling long-discredited rumors about dual loyalty, immigration fraud, and her advocacy for Somali issues.

Some right-wing influencers claimed Minnesota was becoming “Little Mogadishu.”
Stephen Miller invoked “Somalification.”
A handful of state Republicans accused Omar of putting “Somalia’s interests first.”

But Omar refused to bend.
“I understand America,” she said. “I understand our laws.”
And, she added pointedly:
“I understand the Constitution better than the president does.”

What Happens Next? Major Legal Fight Likely

Because Trump’s claim was legally baseless, DHS will now face intense scrutiny over whether it will:
• attempt a lawful termination of Somalia TPS, or
• quietly let Trump’s messaging stand without action.

Immigration advocates expect lawsuits immediately if DHS attempts to speed-run the process.

Past Trump-era attempts to end TPS for Haitians, Salvadorans, and Sudanese were frozen in courts for years.

Minnesota’s Somali community, its elected leaders, and national civil rights groups are already preparing legal action—waiting for the moment DHS publishes any formal notice.

For now?
Nothing has changed.
TPS remains valid.
Work authorization remains valid.
And Omar’s voice is louder than Trump’s threats.

A Closing Note: Why Her Words Resonated

Omar’s critique wasn’t just about TPS.
It was about the rule of law.
About not letting fear reshape policy.
About reminding people—refugees, immigrants, citizens—that America is not governed by angry posts on the internet.

Her final message, delivered firmly but calmly, was the line that spread across Somali-language WhatsApp groups and TikTok overnight:

“Even little kids in eighth grade know this is not how America works.”

Because she does know.
She understands America.