President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized citizens convicted of fraud, including people “from Somalia or anywhere else.”
Trump made the remarks while speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, where he also threatened to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities by the end of January. A similar effort last year was blocked by a court.
The comments came the same day the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali migrants. DHS said conditions in Somalia have improved and no longer justify the designation.
In a social media post, DHS told Somalis with TPS to “go back to your own country, or we’ll send you back ourselves.” Immigration officials said affected migrants will have until March 17 to leave the U.S.
According to DHS estimates, the move impacts about 2,500 Somali nationals, including approved TPS holders and pending applicants. TPS protects migrants from deportation when their home countries face war or disaster.
The administration’s actions follow weeks of increased federal activity in Minnesota, which has a large Somali population. Trump recently called for a “reckoning and retribution” in the state.
The immigration push also overlaps with a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, where authorities have documented roughly $200 million in alleged fraud linked to public programs, according to local reports.
Trump has previously criticized Somalia in public remarks and has blamed Somali communities for crime in Minnesota. His latest comments signal a sharper enforcement approach as his administration expands its immigration crackdown.
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