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Trump says he does not want Somalis in US as ICE plans Minnesota operation

December 3, 2025

President Trump made disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants during a cabinet meeting, stating he doesn't want them in the United States and describing Somalia as barely functioning. His comments coincided with reports that immigration authorities are planning a major enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota's Twin Cities, home to the largest Somali community in America. Local officials have criticized the planned operation, noting that the vast majority of the approximately 80,000 Somali residents in the area are American citizens who could be swept up unfairly.

Who is affected

  • Undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota's Twin Cities
  • American citizens of Somali descent living in Minneapolis and St. Paul (approximately 80,000 people)
  • A few hundred Somali residents with Temporary Protected Status
  • Representative Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress
  • The Somali government and its citizens
  • National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom (killed) and Andrew Wolfe (injured) in the Washington DC shooting

What action is being taken

  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning an enforcement operation in Minnesota targeting undocumented Somali immigrants, expected to begin this week and target hundreds of people
  • The US Treasury Secretary is conducting an investigation into allegations that Minnesota tax dollars were diverted to al-Shabab
  • All US asylum request decisions have been halted
  • A review is underway of green cards issued to individuals from certain countries
  • Trump's administration is expanding its months-long immigration crackdown

Why it matters

  • This situation is significant because it represents an escalation of immigration enforcement that could affect one of the largest Somali communities in the world, with local officials warning that American citizens may be unfairly targeted based on appearance rather than legal status. The actions threaten to undermine due process protections and could create fear within immigrant communities who have been legally residing in the United States for decades, many since fleeing Somalia's civil war in the 1990s. The controversy also highlights tensions between federal immigration policy and local governance, as state officials oppose what they view as indiscriminate targeting that doesn't effectively address actual crime.

What's next

  • The ICE enforcement operation is expected to begin this week in the Twin Cities
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem plans to recommend a travel ban on several countries
  • The ongoing Treasury Department investigation into alleged fund diversion to al-Shabab will continue
  • Trump has threatened to "permanently pause migration" from what he calls "third world countries"

Read full article from source: BBC