Donald Trump on Tuesday called Somali immigrants “garbage” and said they should be sent back home in a rant that came as the administration is reportedly increasing immigration enforcement against undocumented Somalis in Minnesota.
In a xenophobic outburst during a cabinet meeting, Trump attacked Somalis and Rep. Ilhan Omar, a US citizen born in Somalia, saying Somalia “stinks” and is “no good for a reason.” “They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you,” he said, calling Omar “garbage” and warning, “we’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.”
“These are people who do nothing but complain,” he added. “They complain, and from where they came from, they got nothing … When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but bitch, we don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it.”
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the Minneapolis–St Paul metro area, home to most of the state’s Somali residents, would face stepped-up deportation efforts this week, focusing primarily on Somalis with final deportation orders. The operation would deploy “strike teams” of ICE and other federal officers, bringing in about 100 agents from around the country, the Times reported; other outlets, including the Associated Press, have confirmed the reporting.
The move follows rightwing attention on multiple fraud cases involving dozens of Somali residents alleged to have lied to obtain reimbursements for meals, medical care, housing and autism services. The Trump administration has previously threatened to revoke temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota, calling the state a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced an investigation into whether Minnesota taxpayer dollars had “been diverted to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab,” citing a recent rightwing report making that claim.
Mayor Jacob Frey and other city leaders held a press conference responding to “credible reports” of increased enforcement. Frey said Minneapolis stands with the Somali community and that the Minneapolis Police Department does not assist with immigration enforcement and does not receive advance notice of federal operations. “To our Somali community, we love you and we stand with you,” he said. “That commitment is rock solid.”
Minneapolis hosts the country’s largest Somali population, with about 80,000 Somalis in the state; most are US citizens or legal residents. Frey warned that targeting Somali people risks violating due process, making mistakes and detaining American citizens solely because they appear Somali.
