US - S President Donald Trump stated he does not want Somali immigrants in the United States, telling reporters to “go back to where they came from” and calling Somali country “no good.”
He repeated that sentiment during a cabinet meeting, saying, “I don’t want them in our country” and dismissing political correctness. He also criticized the Somali country, describing it as “barely a country” with no structure and ongoing internal violence. Trump tied his remarks to recent and potential immigration actions, including a reported ICE operation targeting Somali immigrants in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, where a large Somali community resides. The operation was described as possibly affecting hundreds of people, with officials denying race-based targeting.
Reaction to the comments came quickly. Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said he would not elevate or respond to Trump’s remarks, suggesting they should be ignored and promoting a peaceful response. In Minnesota, local leaders condemned the reported ICE plan, warning it could sweep up U.S. citizens who appear Somali. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey argued the operation would violate due process. Minnesota’s Somali community—roughly 80,000 residents, most of whom are U.S. citizens—has faced increased scrutiny amid the broader immigration crackdown Trump has been pursuing, including potential revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis in Minnesota.
Trump’s broader immigration push followed the Washington, D.C. shooting involving an Afghan immigrant who came to the U.S. through a special program, though he did not reference that incident when discussing Somalis. DHS officials emphasized that ICE targets individuals based on illegal status, not race, while officials signaled a crackdown on visa fraud and broader immigration enforcement. Domestic reactions included Minnesota Governor Tim Walz opposing indiscriminate immigration targeting and stressing the need for crime-focused enforcement rather than “PR stunts.”
Context also included congressional tensions with Ilhan Omar, the Somali-American representative, who dismissed Trump’s remarks as obsession and incompetence. The situation highlights ongoing debates over immigration policy, racial rhetoric, and the protection of immigrant communities in the United States. (BBC)
