Minnesota’s Somali community braces for immigration crackdown

Somali Americans in Minnesota say they feel more fearful after U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up criticism of the Somali community this week.

Community leaders told the BBC that “the concerns are palpable” following Trump’s speech, in which he said he did not want Somalis to remain in the United States and that “if we continue to accept trash, this country is going down the wrong path”.

“It’s not a really good feeling when you’re being targeted by the president of the United States,” said Aji Avid, executive director of the Cedar Riverside Community Council, which represents a town known as “Little Mogadishu” because of its large Somali population.

Concerns have also grown amid reports that Minnesota officials have begun taking enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants.

Mr Arved said the committee would discuss the risks of holding the annual event in person next week as a result of the move.

“The people who get into this predicament are people who don’t speak English very well, but they’ve been citizens for decades,” he said. “Just because you have an accent, it doesn’t make you any less American.”

Trump made disparaging remarks criticizing the Somali community at the White House on Tuesday. “I don’t want them in our country, and I’ll be honest with you … their country is bad for a reason,” he said.

Arweed said the comments were “dangerous,” adding that “merely attacking other Americans is not consistent with the image of the president.”

The president was responding to questions about whether Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz should resign over allegations of massive fraud in a state social assistance program.

Dozens of people have been charged in a scheme that federal prosecutors say involved a charity fraudulently billing the Minnesota government for children’s meals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kayseh Magan, a Somali immigrant, said many Somali immigrants participated in the alleged scheme, which ultimately cost the state tens of millions of dollars. Former investigator for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

While those accused of involvement represent a small portion of Minnesota’s large Somali population, Trump has repeatedly criticized the community, writing in a post last month that the state had become “an epicenter of fraudulent money laundering” and claiming last week that “hundreds of thousands of Somalis are ripping off our country.”

On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee said it was launching an investigation into Walz’s handling of the relief package.

The Trump administration said it is also investigating claims that Minnesota tax dollars were funneled to al-Shabab, an Islamist group affiliated with al-Qaeda in Somalia.

Asked about the claims last month, Walz said: “Don’t paint an entire group of people with the same brush — demonize them and put them at risk without evidence.

“But if you want to help us and want to hunt down criminals and make sure there are no connections or find out where the money is going, we welcome that.”

Jamal Osman is a member of the Minneapolis City Council who immigrated to the United States when he was 14 and is now a naturalized American citizen.

“Anyone who looks like me is scared right now,” he told CBS News.

Regarding the accusations of fraud, which Trump has repeatedly mentioned in his criticism of the Somali community, Osman said: “My community is upset. Yes, people committed crimes, but the community as a whole should not be blamed for what some people did.”

The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — a program for immigrants from crisis countries — for Somali residents living in Minnesota.

It said its enforcement actions will target those against whom final deportation orders have been issued. The operation began on Wednesday, BBC America partner CBS News reported.

“ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is here,” said Kowsar Mohamed, who lives in south Minneapolis. The city is home to more than 80,000 people of Somali origin.

“We’re seeing events on the ground where people are just being pulled off the street and asked about their housing status. That’s not a data-based approach,” she said.

“Most people have the necessary identification, so the fear is not about the evidence. The fear is about mistakes happening.”

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, denied that anyone was targeted because of race.

“Every day, ICE enforces state laws across the country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The reason someone is targeted by ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are here illegally.”

Ms. Muhammad said local community groups had been anticipating increased immigration enforcement but had stepped up preparations after Mr. Trump’s comments.

The organization Monarca has arranged “Legal Observer Training” in Minneapolis to educate people about their rights when they witness federal immigration activity.

Ms. Muhammad said other ways for communities to prepare include having emergency contacts readily available in the event of an ICE encounter and sharing photos of unmarked cars and masked agents in private messaging groups.

“Everyone is going to be cautious,” she said.

“Is there fear? Absolutely. But no one hides behind the tail.”