Minnesota's Somali Community Faces Uncertainty Amid Fraud Scandal

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been directed by the Trump administration to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities, as confirmed by a source familiar with the planning. ICE is set to launch immigration enforcement operations in the Minneapolis-St.

Paul area, which has the largest population of Somali immigrants in the U.S. Hundreds of individuals with deportation orders are expected to be targeted, with operations starting this week. President Donald Trump added fuel to the fire, stating, 'I don't want them in our country,' and claiming Somali refugees are 'completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.' His rhetoric has heightened tensions within the community, leading to fears of profiling and increased scrutiny from authorities.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed solidarity with the Somali community, emphasizing that due process would be violated and that American citizens could be wrongly detained based solely on their appearance.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter condemned the federal actions as 'un-American' and noted that the nation has shifted its immigration posture negatively towards darker-skinned immigrants. Minneapolis City Council member Jamal Osman, born in Somalia, criticized Trump's comments as racist and xenophobic.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara reassured the community that local police do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Governor Tim Walz dismissed the reports of ICE targeting undocumented Somalis as a 'PR stunt,' arguing that indiscriminately targeting immigrants is not a solution.

Minnesota's Somali community, which numbers over 107 thousand statewide, has deep roots in the state, having fled Somalia's civil war, with many drawn to Minnesota's social programs. According to Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, approximately 95 percent of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens, making the targeted population a small fraction of the community.

The heightened scrutiny comes in the wake of a fraud scandal involving federal funds, leaving the Somali community in a precarious situation. Dr. Ahmed Samatar, from Macalester College, explained the influx of Somali refugees to Minnesota began in 1991 due to civil war, with many arriving through refugee resettlement programs that offered housing, education, and job opportunities.

The situation remains tense as the community grapples with the implications of federal targeting and ongoing fears of deportation.