US President Donald Trump stated that he does not want Somali immigrants in the country, telling reporters that they should return to where they came from and insisting their country “is no good for a reason.” His comments, made during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, drew sharp reactions across Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali community in the United States.
“I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you,” Trump said as he criticized current immigration levels. He added that the US would “go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.”
His remarks surfaced as immigration authorities were reported to be preparing an enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Local officials expressed concern that such an operation could wrongly impact American citizens who may be perceived as Somali based on appearance or community ties.
The Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St Paul, are home to one of the world’s largest Somali diaspora communities. During the televised cabinet meeting, Trump repeated his position clearly. “I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you, OK. Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country.”
He escalated his remarks by criticizing Somalia directly. “With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no, they have no anything. They just run around killing each other. There’s no structure,” Trump said.
He then turned his attention to Representative Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress, saying, “I always watch her,” and adding that Omar “hates everybody, and I think she’s an incompetent person.”
Omar responded on social media. “His obsession with me is creepy,” she wrote. “I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.”
Why Is ICE Planning an Operation in Minnesota?
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been directed by the Trump administration to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities, according to information shared with CBS News. Hundreds of people may be affected once the operation begins. A Homeland Security spokeswoman declined to comment on ongoing plans, emphasizing that ICE actions are not based on race.
“What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the move, stating that an ICE operation “means due process will be violated.” Local leaders estimate that about 80,000 residents in the area are originally from Somalia, with the vast majority being American citizens.
What Is Driving the Administration’s Immigration Crackdown?
The immigration crackdown intensified following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC. The suspect, now facing murder charges, is originally from Afghanistan. Shortly afterward, Trump announced plans to end Temporary Protected Status for Somali residents living in Minnesota, a move that would impact a few hundred immigrants.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also said her agency would focus on investigating visa fraud in the state.
Somalia remains one of the poorest nations globally, and many Somali migrants came to the US during the civil unrest of the 1990s. Minnesota leaders strongly opposed the administration’s plan. State Senator Zaynab Mohamed wrote, “When ICE agents interact with Somalis here, they will find what we’ve been saying for years: Almost all of us are US citizens.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has clashed with Trump recently, responded firmly. “We welcome support in investigating and prosecuting crime. But pulling a PR stunt and indiscriminately targeting immigrants is not a real solution to a problem.”
The debate continues to grow as Somali-American communities and local leaders call for due process, accuracy, and restraint in any federal enforcement action.
By Lucky Anyanje