You may have heard that President Donald Trump is under fire for calling Somali immigrants “garbage” at a cabinet meeting last week. This incendiary statement came right as news emerged of a crackdown against the Somali community in Minnesota. The state is also home to the largest Somali population in the United States—about 80,000 strong.
Trump’s remarks included a call for Somalis to be sent back to their home country, stating, “They complain, and from where they came from, they got nothing … When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but bitch, we don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it.” These comments have been rightfully met with swift backlash from local leaders and community advocates.
Ilhan Omar, herself a U.S. Congress representative of Somali descent, has made her fears clear. What she fears the most is what all this inflammatory rhetoric can lead to. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed solidarity with the Somali community, stating, “To our Somali community, we love you and we stand with you.” This sentiment resonated during a recent press conference where Frey and other city officials addressed “credible reports” of increased enforcement actions against Somalis.
The Trump administration has previously threatened to revoke temporary protected status for Somalis living in Minnesota, citing the state as a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” related to the community. Recent high-profile fraud cases have fanned the flames of these allegations. Dozens of local Somali residents are accused of misrepresenting themselves to receive payouts for meal distributions, medical treatments, housing, and autism therapies.
Scott Bessent, the new treasury secretary, immediately called for an investigation. He is investigating claims that Minnesota residents’ tax dollars were misused to fund the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. The Minneapolis police chief has reiterated that the department does not assist with immigration enforcement and does not receive advanced notice of any operations targeting the community.
Critics of the enforcement measures argue that targeting Somali individuals could lead to violations of due process and wrongful detentions. “Targeting Somali people means that due process will be violated, mistakes will be made, and let’s be clear, it means that American citizens will be detained for no other reason than they look Somali,” warned one advocate.
As national tensions persist and rise, local leaders are reminding the community not to forget support for their Somali neighbors in these limited and charged environments. The resistance to Trump’s hateful rhetoric and anti-immigrant policies is a testament to the hard work and sacrifice of immigrant communities across America.