Focus on Africa Africans in Minnesota challenge deportation threat
Mar 25, 2026
Brian Chishimba, a mental health and addiction awareness advocate who survived substance use, hospitalization and HIV, shares his recovery journey. Bushra Mohamed, a BBC reporter who covered Minneapolis, reports on Africans facing TPS termination and community reactions. They discuss legal fights over deportation threats, on-the-ground fear and activism. The conversation also touches on rising youth drug abuse in Zambia.
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What Temporary Protected Status Actually Means
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a non-permanent US immigration program that shields people from deportation when their home countries face war, disasters, or persecution.
- Abdi Salam Ghouled explained TPS began helping Somalis after 1991's civil war, has been extended yearly, and was expanded under President Obama around 2012.
Families Hiding After Massive ICE Crackdown
- Many TPS holders live in fear and some relocate nightly to avoid ICE raids, cancelling work and hiding with friends to avoid detention.
- Bushra Mohamed reported people woke up to "3,000 ICE agents" in the city and one 58‑year‑old chose voluntary return after 30 years in the US.
Court Ruling Provides Temporary Legal Shield
- A federal court order temporarily prevents many TPS recipients from being deported while litigation proceeds, giving detainees immediate relief.
- Bushra Mohamed noted advocates can obtain court letters enabling hidden TPS holders to work and prove non‑deportability during the case.