Immigrants from Somalia are the latest target of President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda. And following his vulgar language about migrants from the African nation, the president’s latest plans for ICE raids has folks outraged.
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Federal authorities are now preparing an operation in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area going after undocumented Somali migrants, according to reports. But while Minneapolis is just one on a laundry list of cities the president pledged to rid of undocumented migrants, it seems his beef with Somalia is more personal than anyone could imagine.
For context, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the nation. Since the 1990s, the Somali Civil War has displaced thousands of people…many of whom come to the U.S. under refugee status. Over 61,000 people living in Minnesota identify as Somali, according to census data, and of those, about 58 percent were born in the U.S. while 87 percent are naturalized citizens.
In many cases, Somali refugees arrived to the state for available social services and welfare programs which helped them resettle, according to CBS News. But in response, Somali migrants have faced harsh criticism– mostly from MAGA Republicans — who are anti-immigration and anti-government assistance.
On social media, Trump claimed, “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing.” He also announced he would end Temporary Protected Statuses for Somalis “effective immediately,” following the shooting of two National Guard officers in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 26.
The president admitted that “nothing” links Somali migrants to the tragedy. Still, he claimed — without any apparent evidence — that Somalis “have caused a lot of trouble” for America and need to be removed. He even called Somali immigrants “garbage” adding “they contribute nothing.”
In response, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey fired back at the president, saying language and planned attack “violate the moral fabric of what we stand by in this country as Americans…They have started businesses and created jobs. They have added to the cultural fabric of what Minneapolis is.”
Many believe his beef with the African country could stem from his distain for Minn. Rep. Ilhan Omar. The two politicians have been at odds for years; just last month, the two engaged in a public exchange of insults following Trump’s attacj on her native country. Ever since the president returned to office, he’s threatened to deport Omar and other folks living in her state.
However, Omar promised to fight against Trump and his attacks on her community. “I’m not going anywhere. Don’t waste your energy on me” she told media. “I will be here longer than Trump.”
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