The U.S. Coast Guard announced the designation in a Federal Register notice published October.27, 2026 and  took effect upon announcement. The measure allows U.S. authorities to impose additional entry requirements on vessels arriving from Somali ports.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of Trump's increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Somalis and his repeated attacks on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born U.S. citizen representing Minnesota. 

Trump has also repeatedly targeted Somali immigrants in Minnesota, at times making sweeping negative statements about the community. In December 2025, he said he did not want Somalis in the United States and referred to Omar and members of her community using derogatory language, according to The News York Times.

The Coast Guard, however, based its latest decision on maritime security assessments.  According to the notice, the agency determined that Somalia was not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures at its ports. Under Section 70110(a) of the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Coast Guard has authority to impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from foreign ports that do not meet U.S. security standards.

Somalia's addition brings the advisory list to 24 countries and territories, including Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

The notice does not specify the individual security deficiencies identified at Somali ports or provide details of the additional requirements vessels will face.