Understanding the Plight of Somalis Making it to the U.S. — Only to Get Trashed By Trump

A fraud scheme, a deadly civil war and Islamophobia all plague the small but mighty community of immigrants from Somalia. Since first coming to the states, thousands of refugees have made a beautiful life for themselves here. But under President Donald Trump, their way of life is now up in the air.

Trump announced plans to invade Somali communities in Minnesota and end Temporary Protected Status for thousands, we previously told you. But while the shocking news surprised most folks, this is yet another barrier that Somali migrants have had to endure since the 1990s, when the Somali Civil War first broke out. And in order to understand the causes of the Somali Civil War, you have to start form the very beginning…

The Rise of President Siad Barre

President Siad Barre took office as the third leader of Somalia after the 1969 overthrowing of the Somali Republic and assassination of President Abdirashid Shermarke. President Barre was the leader of the Somali National Army, and he ruled the country with an iron fist.

The Exile of Barre

Throughout his presidency (1969 to 1991), Barre was feared, hated and often criticized by his political opponents. The people of Somali viewed him as a dictator, and in 1991, pent up tension in the country exploded into a civil war which had generational impact, the Horn Review reported.

Barre was eventually exiled and found his way to Kenya. He died of a heart attack in 1995. But with Barre no longer on the thrown, a power vacuum was created where nationalist groups, terror organizations, warlords or other militias fought to take his place and gain territory. This led to a bloody civil war that continues even today.

Al-Shabaab

Terrorist organizations like al-Shabaab rose from the ashes of the Somali conflict in the early 2000s, according to the Global Conflict Tracker. The al-Qaeda affiliate has grown to be one of the most feared terror movements in the world. There goal is exploit the current Somali government and eventually rid the country of its leadership completely.

Thousands Are Displaced

Since the war’s start, over 2.6 million people have been displaced, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency. Add on the country’s several environmental issues — including drought, starvation and illness — and you have a recipe for disaster.

America Steps in

Like many international conflicts, the United States stepped up in order to take in as many refugees as possible. This led to Somali migrants being given Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 1991. Their TPS is expected to end in March 2026.

First Somali Immigrants in Minnesota

With the nation of Somalia in constant conflict, many folks got word of the potential of safety in America. Some of the first Somali migrants arrived at a town called Marshall, Minn., about 150 miles west of Minneapolis, according to NPR. Over time, migrants started living in the capital city en masse.

Where Else Did Somali Refugees Go?

Refugees from Somalia settled across the country. Although Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the states, Maine and Ohio come close as other major hubs for their community. Over 10,000 Somali migrants live in Maine, where current Rep. Deqa Dhalac became South Portland’s first Somali mayor in 2021, AP News reported. More than 45,000 Somalis live in Ohio, according to data from UPG North America.

Government Assistance

In many cases, refugees arrived to Minnesota with the promise that government services would help them transition. For years, refugees received social services and welfare programs without question, according to CBS News. It’s these resources that helped the Somali community rebuild after suffering tragedy in their own home country.

Somali Community Grows

Since the ’90s, Minnesota has been a hub for Somali migrants — and not just the ones fleeing from war. Over 61,000 people living now 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. But while the U.S. has been a key part in rebuilding the Somali community, there’s been growing concern that Somali migrants are abusing government resources…

Islamophobia

After the Sept. 11 attacks, the rise of anti-Muslim hate swept the U.S. As a consequence, Somalis in America — many of whom practice Islam — have been targeted. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Minnesota reported a significant increase in attacks against mosques in the state, with over 40 incidents, with 16 attacks in 2024 alone.

Ilhan Omar Makes History

Minn. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s family fled Somalia during the civil war in 1991, according to her Congress bio. They were eventually granted asylum and moved to Virginia in 1995. Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 before becoming the first Africa-born refugee to serve in Congress in 2019. Despite her achievements and strong reputation in her community, Omar has been subjected to countless death threats and blatant racism… even from President Donald Trump, with whom she’s been beefing for years, we told you.

Republicans Take Issue with Somali Community

A massive fraud scandal allegedly involving several Somalis has practically destroyed the country’s reputation in the U.S. A COVID-19 children’s program was implicated in an alleged $300 million fraud scheme with more than 70 defendants, according to the Justice Department. The organization allegedly in charge of the scam was nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future, which reportedly has deep ties to the Somali community.

Now, Republicans like Trump advisor Stephen Miller are calling out the alleged fraudsters and blaming every single Somali refugee for the crimes. He said, “The entire Somali refugee program is predicated on a lie. Destroying your own country does not give you the right to become a citizen in ours.”  

President Trump’s Recent Racial Attack

That brings us to this month, when Trump turned his usual attacks from Rep. Omar to the greater Somali community. “I look at somebody that comes from Somalia, who, where they don’t have anything — they don’t have police, they don’t have military, they don’t have anything,” Trump told Fox News. “All they have is crime — and she [Rep. Omar] comes in and tells us how to run our country.”

He also 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.