Somali Businesses Struggle During the Minneapolis ICE Crackdown

January 22, 2026

The Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge" immigration crackdown has severely impacted Minneapolis's Karmel Mall, a major commercial and community hub for America's largest Somali population. Business owners report that the mall, which typically houses over a hundred small businesses offering various goods and services, now sits largely empty as both immigrant and citizen customers avoid the area out of fear of federal immigration enforcement. Vendors describe losing the vast majority of their customers over a three-week period, with some businesses experiencing monthly revenue drops of $20,000 and struggling to pay rent.

Who is affected

Somali business owners and vendors at Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis
Customers of Somali and East African descent, including U.S. citizens
Employees of businesses in the mall who are too afraid to come to work
The broader immigrant community in Minneapolis
Specific businesses mentioned: Wahid's family convenience store, Bashir Garad's Safari Travel & Accounting Services, and Ibrahim Dahiye's electronics store
The largest Somali population in the United States

What action is being taken

Federal immigration agents are conducting "Operation Metro Surge," an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis
Many business owners are not opening their shops due to lack of expected customers
Business owners like Ibrahim Dahiye are pooling funds to make rent payments
Dahiye is keeping his passport on him at all times
Existing travel agency clients are canceling upcoming trips

Why it matters

This matters because an entire community and its economic infrastructure are being paralyzed by fear, affecting both documented citizens and immigrants alike. The situation demonstrates how immigration enforcement operations can have devastating ripple effects on legal businesses and communities, destroying livelihoods even among U.S. citizens. The targeting of America's largest Somali community, combined with presidential rhetoric dehumanizing this population, raises concerns about racial profiling and the erosion of community trust in government institutions, despite official claims that enforcement is based solely on immigration status rather than race or ethnicity.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint