Trump Says Somalis ‘Not Wanted’ in US, Orders ICE Crackdown in Minnesota
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a sharp verbal attack on Somali immigrants, declaring he does not want Somalis in the United States and urging them to “go back and fix their homeland.” His remarks came during a Cabinet meeting in Washington, where he repeatedly described Somali migrants as offering “little” to the country.
“I don’t want them in our country,” Trump said, dismissing concerns about political correctness. “The US would go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.”
The comments were delivered days after the administration suspended all asylum decisions following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. Although the suspect in that incident is an Afghan national, Trump used the moment to cast wider doubt on immigrants from several nations, including Somalia.
US media reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been instructed to begin targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minneapolis and St. Paul the Twin Cities of Minnesota, home to one of the world’s largest Somali communities. According to CBS, hundreds of people may be affected when the operation begins this week.
Trump went further during the meeting, saying Somali immigrants “contribute nothing” and insisting: “Their country is no good for a reason, and we don’t want them in our country.” He encouraged them to return to Somalia, while also criticising Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who came to the US as a child refugee in 1995.
The president’s comments followed unverified allegations circulating in conservative media claiming that money stolen from Minnesota state programs had been routed to al-Shabab, the militant group controlling parts of Somalia. Trump amplified the claims online, calling Minnesota “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and pledging to end temporary protections for some Somalis living legally in the state.
This proposal has drawn immediate pushback from state leaders and immigration experts, who argue the move is legally questionable and risks stoking further suspicion toward Minnesota’s Somali community. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the remarks, saying Somali immigrants have made meaningful contributions to the city.
Only a small portion of Minnesota’s Somali population would be affected by a termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). A congressional report in August estimated that just 705 Somalis nationwide hold TPS.
Somali migration to Minnesota dates back to the 1990s, largely through refugee resettlement. Despite this, Trump made no distinction between citizens, legal residents and undocumented individuals in his remarks.
Rep. Ilhan Omar responded on social media, saying: “His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.”
