MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Remarks from President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting have caused widespread outrage within Minnesota's Somali community. Trump stated, They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, and referred to Somalians as 'garbage.' On Wednesday, he reiterated his controversial stance, saying, Somalians should be out of here. They’ve destroyed our country. This sparked immediate responses from community members who vehemently oppose his statements.
Hamse Warfe, a successful, Somali-born U.S. citizen from the Minneapolis area now running a national nonprofit called World Savvy, articulated his frustration: I am not garbage. Words matter a lot — especially when it’s the president of the United States who is talking. He highlighted the contributions of the Somali community, which has thrived since arriving in Minnesota in the 1990s, drawn by the state’s robust social services and a strong diaspora.
There are approximately 84,000 people of Somali descent in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, making up almost one-third of all Somalis living in the U.S. The Somali American community has increasingly risen to prominence in state politics, with representatives like Ilhan Omar serving in Congress.
Trump’s statements come in the wake of a federal announcement regarding a targeted immigration enforcement operation aimed at individuals from Somalia living unlawfully in the U.S. Local community leaders and allies, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have criticized the broad-brush blaming of the Somali community for unrelated criminal activities and expressed their commitment to support the community. Frey declared, Minneapolis is — and will remain — a city that stands up for our residents. Local and state leaders continue to advocate for the rights and dignities of the Somali community in light of the president's remarks.
