The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said conditions in Somalia have improved enough to end the protection programme. However, four Somali citizens and two migrant rights groups have filed a lawsuit, arguing that the decision is unlawful.
One of the groups, Muslim Advocates, said removing the protection could expose Somali migrants to danger and described the policy as discriminatory.
The plaintiffs claim the decision was influenced by prejudice rather than a fair assessment of the security situation in Somalia, where government forces are still fighting militants from Al-Shabaab.
The legal complaint also referred to several past comments made by President Trump about Somali people.
Another immigrant advocacy group, African Communities Together, has also launched separate legal actions. The organisation is challenging plans that could affect migrants from Cameroon, Ethiopia, and South Sudan — nearly 12,000 people in total.
For now, the policy change has been paused while the legal challenges move through the courts. The process could take months or even years before a final decision is made.
At the same time, immigration enforcement operations targeting Somali migrants in states such as Minnesota and Maine have sparked protests and criticism from activists.
Separately, prosecutors in Minnesota have charged dozens of people in a series of alleged social service fraud cases. Authorities say the schemes may have cost taxpayers more than 200 million dollars, although some estimates suggest the figure could be much higher.
The cases involve different programmes, including COVID-19 food assistance, housing support, and autism care services. Prosecutors say many of the suspects in the investigations are of Somali background, and about 66 people have been convicted so far.
