Somali-Americans call Trump’s remarks ‘not becoming of a president’
Somali-American communities in Minnesota are reporting a significant increase in fear and anxiety. The tension follows a week of intensified criticism from former US President Donald Trump, which coincided with reports of a new immigration enforcement operation in the state.
Community leaders describe the atmosphere as one of palpable apprehension. Trump’s recent remarks, where he stated he did not want Somalis in the U.S. and referred to taking in “garbage,” have left many feeling directly targeted by a major political figure.
“When you’re being targeted by the president of the United States, it’s not really a good feeling,” said Aj Awed, executive director of the Cedar-Riverside Community Council. His organization represents a Minneapolis neighborhood often called “Little Mogadishu” due to its large Somali population.
The situation has become so tense that community leaders are reconsidering public events. Awed noted the council would have to discuss the safety risks of holding a scheduled annual event in person, citing both the political rhetoric and the enforcement activities.
“Dangerous” Rhetoric and Fears of Violence
During comments at the White House, Trump made his position clear. “I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you… their country is no good for a reason,” he said. Awed labeled these comments as not only inappropriate but also hazardous.
“It was ‘not becoming of a president to be just attacking other Americans’,” he stated, expressing deep concern that such words could incite violence. “When the president puts a bull’s eye on the immigrant community here,” Awed added, it could encourage others to become “more radicalised.”
The fear is widespread. Jamal Osman, a member of the Minneapolis City Council who became a naturalized citizen after moving to the U.S. at age 14, told CBS News about the current climate. “Anyone who looks like me [is] scared right now,” he said.
Fraud Case Used to Criticize an Entire Community
The former president’s comments were made in the context of questions about a large-scale fraud case involving a Minnesota social assistance program. Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of individuals in a scheme where a charity allegedly billed the government for millions of dollars in meals for children that were never served during the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of Somali immigrants were implicated in the case.
While those accused are a very small portion of Minnesota’s large and established Somali population, Trump has used the case to issue broad condemnations. In a post last month, he called the state a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.”
Osman pushed back on this generalization. “My community is upset. Yes, people commit crimes, but an entire community should not be blamed based on what some individuals did.” The House Oversight Committee has since opened an investigation into the state governor’s handling of the fraud allegations.
Enforcement Operation Amplifies Anxiety
Adding to the community’s distress is an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. The action targets individuals with final deportation orders and follows the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali residents. This program was designed to protect immigrants from countries experiencing crisis.
“ICE is already here,” said Kowsar Mohamed, a resident of south Minneapolis, a city home to over 80,000 people of Somali descent. “We’re seeing boots on the ground activity where folks are just being plucked off of the streets and being asked about their residency status.”
The fear is not just among the undocumented. Many long-term, legal residents and citizens worry about being mistakenly targeted. “The people that are getting caught up in this are people who don’t speak that great of English, but who have been citizens for decades,” Awed explained. “Just because you have an accent does not make you less American.” Mohamed echoed this, stating, “The fear is around mistakes happening.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman denied that targeting was based on race, stating that ICE targets individuals who are “in the country illegally.”
Community Braces and Organizes
In response to the heightened enforcement and political climate, local organizations are mobilizing. They are ramping up efforts to protect residents and inform them of their rights. The community is taking several proactive steps:
- Organizations like Monarca are scheduling “legal observer training” to teach people how to properly witness and document federal immigration activity.
- Residents are preparing emergency contact lists in case of an unexpected encounter with ICE agents.
- Private messaging groups are being used to share photos and locations of unmarked cars and masked agents in their neighborhoods.
“Everyone is just going to be in the space of caution,” Mohamed said, summarizing the defensive posture many have been forced to adopt. Despite the unsettling environment, she stressed the community’s resilience.
“Is there fear? Absolutely. But no one is tucking behind their tail.”