In a sharp escalation of his anti-immigration stance, former US President Donald Trump launched a scathing verbal attack on Somali immigrants residing in the United States, using derogatory language and calling for their deportation. The comments were made during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where he claimed the community contributes little and is overly dependent on welfare systems.
"They Contribute Nothing": Trump's Harsh Remarks
As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Trump made his views clear near the end of a lengthy meeting. He referred to Somali immigrants as "garbage" and stated, "I don't want them in our country." The former president argued that people from troubled backgrounds who continue to complain are not welcome. "These are people who do nothing but complain," Trump said. "When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing, we don't want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it."
Major ICE Operation Targets Minneapolis-St. Paul
Following the rhetoric, a significant enforcement action is set to unfold. According to the New York Times, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, which hosts the largest concentration of Somali residents in the US, will see intensified deportation efforts this week. The operation will involve "strike teams" from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal officers, including approximately 100 agents brought in from other parts of the country. The primary targets are individuals with final orders for removal.
This crackdown follows a backdrop of fraud cases in Minnesota. Prosecutors have alleged that dozens of Somali residents were involved in schemes to illegally obtain state reimbursements for services like meals, medical care, housing, and autism support. The Trump administration has previously labeled Minnesota a center for fraudulent financial activities and threatened to revoke the Temporary Protected Status for Somalis living there.
Omar in the Crosshairs and Community Backlash
Trump's criticism has long extended to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who emigrated from Somalia as a child in 1995. His recent comments were amplified after conservative activist Christopher Rufo published unverified claims in the City Journal. The article, citing unnamed sources, alleged that money stolen from Minnesota's programs was funneled to al-Shabab, a militant group linked to al-Qaeda.
Trump explicitly named Omar in his tirade, stating, "Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage." On Tuesday, Omar responded on social media, calling Trump's fixation "creepy" and expressing hope that he "gets the help he desperately needs."
Minnesota is home to over 61,000 people of Somali ancestry, making it the largest Somali community in the United States, as per census data. Many families arrived as refugees fleeing the civil war that began in the early 1990s. The state's robust social services and existing diaspora network made it a primary destination for resettlement.
The situation highlights the ongoing tense debate around immigration and integration in the US, with a specific focus on a community that has sought refuge and built a new life over three decades.
