Reasons Somali migrants might still target the US despite travel restrictions

MOGADISHU, Somalia Mohamed Abdi Awale, a Somali migrant, survived a harrowing journey across Africa in search of a better future, yet he remains determined to try again, aiming for the United States despite rising travel restrictions.

Awale is among 165 Somali migrants recently sent back home after being detained in Libya. The International Organization for Migration reports that those attempting the journey to Europe often endure unacceptable and inhumane conditions.

His trek spanned over 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), taking him from Mogadishu through Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan. Near the Sudan-Libyan border, smugglers captured him and brought him to Kufra, a remote Sahara oasis, where he was tortured on video to pressure his family into paying ransom.

Torture became normal, Awale recalled. If you failed to pay, they beat you until you fainted. Some lost their minds, others didnt survive. Unable to cover the ransom, his mother, Hawo Elmo Rage, appealed on social media for help from Somalis worldwide, eventually raising $17,000 to secure his release.

After being freed, Awale and other migrants were driven toward the Mediterranean coast, but their vehicle broke down. They then endured more than two weeks on foot, facing hunger and dehydration. I thought we would die there, Awale said. Eventually, they were detained outside Tripoli. Awale spent a month in prison in Sirte and two more months in Tripoli before returning to Somalia in November.

Awale is part of the massive exodus of Somalis fleeing over three decades of civil conflict. According to the UNHCR, around 3.5 million people remain internally displaced, while hundreds of thousands have sought refuge abroad. Many, like Awale, aspire to build a life in the West, with the U.S. being a longtime dream.

His mother said, I want him to stay, but I know he wishes for a better life. I pray God gives him a safe future not the dangerous one he found.

Recent U.S. immigration policies have altered the prospects for Somali migrants. In June, President Trump barred entry for citizens of Somalia and 11 other countries, prompting Awale to shift his focus to Europe. Yet he still hopes to reach the U.S. despite heightened restrictions and negative rhetoric from the White House.

This week, the White House also announced a pause on immigration applications for 19 countries, including Somalia. My dream was America, but I felt like Trump closed that door, Awale said. Maybe after Trumps term ends.

Author: Grace Ellison