In a White House news conference, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Somali immigrants, labeling them as “garbage” who “add no value” to the nation, emphasizing that “Their country is in a bad shape,” and claiming they engage in violence against each other. Trump’s comments followed reports of a planned immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that would target Somali immigrants residing unlawfully in the U.S.
The Trump administration simultaneously announced a suspension of all immigration applications, including those for green cards and U.S. citizenship, from 19 non-European countries due to national security and public safety concerns, with countries like Afghanistan and Somalia included in the list.
Approximately 260,000 individuals of Somali descent were reported to be living in the U.S. in 2024, with the largest concentration residing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, home to around 84,000 American citizens of Somali heritage.
Trump’s recent focus on immigrants from Somalia and their descendants has sparked controversy, with the President making disparaging remarks about the community, alleging that they have caused disturbances in the country. Trump’s history of using racist language includes previous derogatory comments about Haitian immigrants and African nations.
The President’s targeting of Somalis intensified following claims by a conservative outlet suggesting that taxpayer funds from defrauded programs have supported the militant group al-Shabaab in Somalia. However, investigations have not yet provided substantial evidence linking these funds to terrorist organizations.
Local Somali community leaders and officials have refuted the notion of blaming the broader Somali community for fraud cases, including the Feeding Our Future scandal, the largest COVID-19-related fraud incident in the country. Responding to Trump’s remarks, Minnesota politicians and community leaders have stood in solidarity with Somali residents, denouncing the President’s comments as unfair and politically motivated.
In response to Trump’s statements, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre refrained from direct comments but hinted at not being the only target of Trump’s insults. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed concern over the increased ICE activity against Somali Minnesotans, labeling it as political targeting rather than standard immigration enforcement.
Trump’s comments have drawn criticism from various quarters, with local politicians and community leaders condemning his remarks as divisive and unwarranted. In Somalia, there has been shock and disapproval over Trump’s derogatory language, with calls for international condemnation of such rhetoric. The history of terror group recruitment within Minnesota’s Somali community has added complexity to the situation, with ongoing efforts to combat radicalization and extremism in the region.
