Trump denigrates Somali immigrants as he orders ICE to target them. Local officials push back
Donald Trump is openly threatening Minnesota’s Somali American community and making racist attacks against them.
After the president’s Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Trump told reporters that he heard “Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars. Billions. Every year, billions of dollars. And they contribute nothing. The welfare’s like 88 percent. They contribute nothing. I don’t want ’em in our country, I’ll be honest with you. Somebody would say, ‘Ooh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care.”
Trump on Minnesota's Somali community: "They contribute nothing. I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you." pic.twitter.com/6JHic4rUpP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 2, 2025
Trump’s racist tirade (and attack on Somali American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar) comes after The New York Times reported that his administration plans to launch an immigration crackdown targeting the Somali community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, purportedly focusing on undocumented immigrants. About 100 federal officers and agents have been sent to the region from around the country, according to the report. [Continue reading…]
Jacob Frey: "We are here to respond to credible reports relaying that there are as many as 100 federal agents that will be deployed to the Twin Cities with a specific focus on targeting our Somali community. To our Somali community — we love you and we stand with you. That… pic.twitter.com/3nGvyxRntw
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 2, 2025
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara notes that the MPD will not work with federal agents and says, "In moments like this, I know how real the fear is in our community. People are going to want to speak out, protest, and exercise their 1st Amendment rights. We will absolutely… pic.twitter.com/wRGD21wuHh
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 2, 2025