Minnesota Somalis Fearful Yet Defiant After Trump Insults: 'We Are Not Trash'

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec 5 The Karmel Mall, a central hub for Minneapolis Somali community, usually bustling with shoppers exchanging greetings in Somali and exploring countless vendors, was almost deserted Wednesday evening. This followed President Donald Trump labeling Somali immigrants as "garbage" and claiming they had "destroyed our country."

City officials noted that the presidents comments coincided with a notable increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minneapolis.

Minnesotas Somali residents have become an influential political group, highlighted by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. Recently, Trump has intensified his criticism of Omar and other Somali Americans amid ongoing fraud investigations affecting community members.

The sudden surge in deportation efforts in the Twin Cities has caused many Somali residents to go into hiding, while others remain vigilant, often carrying their passports for fear of racial profiling by ICE, according to interviews with locals, officials, and immigrant advocates.

We Are Not Trash

Ifrah Farah, a Somali-born U.S. citizen and hair salon owner at Karmel Mall, said, I feel scared wherever I go. Am I a target? I dont know. Its very sad. Ive never done anything wrong; Im a hard-working mom. We are not trash.

Jamal Osman, a Minneapolis city council member and Somali refugee, shared that he has received numerous calls from residents concerned about venturing outdoors and seeking updates on ICE operations. He described the neighborhood as feeling like a war zone.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, clarified that ICE targets individuals who are in the country illegally, and those abiding by U.S. laws have nothing to fear.

Despite this, the Somali community has come under intense scrutiny due to a Justice Department fraud investigation, which has resulted in charges against at least 77 people, many from the Somali community, for allegedly misusing COVID relief funds meant for school meals. Most have pleaded guilty, and a white Minnesota woman accused of leading the scheme was convicted on multiple counts of wire fraud.

Deportation Efforts Escalate

McLaughlin confirmed the increase in deportation activity, while city leaders and immigrant advocates reported ICE apprehending residents in public spaces and around the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, a Somali community hub. Detentions of Spanish-speaking laborers were also observed.

Advocates argued that the president is using the fraud case to broadly target Somali residents. Michelle Rivero, director of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, emphasized the communitys essential role in the citys economic and social life.

Community tensions rose further when Trump made disparaging remarks about Somalis during televised meetings. Omar denounced these statements as racist, Islamophobic, and xenophobic, highlighting the presidents fixation on her and the Somali community.

More than half of Minneapolis 84,000 Somalis are U.S.-born, and most immigrants arrived as refugees from Somalias civil war. Many were drawn to Minnesota due to refugee support networks and existing social connections.

Karmel Mall serves as a cultural and social center, filled with conversations, music, and traditional scents of cardamom, cinnamon, and coriander. Hayat, a Somali shop owner at the mall, noted a dramatic loss of customers recently, attributing it to fear following ICE raids and presidential comments.

Somali women, who operate many mall businesses, have seen their livelihoods severely impacted. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter criticized the immigration actions as a spectacle that does not improve public safety.

Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota, called the presidents attacks on Somali Americans dangerous and linked them to a rise in online threats. Osman expressed the communitys resilience: We know what fear feels like. We went through a civil war and came here. We will not let this shake us. The fear is real, and they are being targeted by the President of the United States.

Author: Lucas Grant