The Dangerous Politicization of Minnesota's Somali Community: An Assault on American Values

The Facts: Understanding Minnesota’s Somali Population

Recent statements by President Donald Trump and top administration officials disparaging Minnesota’s large Somali community have focused renewed attention on the immigrants from the war-torn east African country and their descendants. On Tuesday, President Trump stated he did not want Somalis in the U.S. because “they contribute nothing,” speaking soon after a person familiar with the planning revealed that federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that would primarily focus on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S.

According to the Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey, an estimated 260,000 people of Somali descent were living in the U.S. in 2024. The largest population resides in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, home to about 84,000 residents, most of whom are American citizens. The data reveals that almost 58% of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the U.S., and of the foreign-born Somalis in Minnesota, an overwhelming majority – 87% – are naturalized U.S. citizens. These individuals include many who fled the long civil war in their east African country and were drawn to the state’s welcoming social programs.

Context: The Political Backdrop

The administration’s focus on the Somali community intensified after a conservative news outlet, City Journal, claimed that taxpayer dollars from defrauded government programs have flowed to the militant group al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaida. While Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that his agency is investigating whether “hardworking Minnesotans’ tax dollars may have been diverted to the terrorist organization,” little evidence has emerged so far to prove a link. Federal prosecutors have not charged any of the dozens of defendants in recent public program fraud cases in Minnesota with providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations.

Last month, Trump announced he was terminating Temporary Protected Status for Somali migrants in Minnesota, a legal safeguard against deportation. A report produced for Congress in August put the number of Somalis covered by the program at just 705 nationwide. The announcement drew immediate pushback from state leaders and immigration experts, who characterized Trump’s declaration as a legally dubious effort to sow fear and suspicion.

The Feeding Our Future Scandal: Context Matters

The article references the Feeding Our Future scandal, which federal prosecutors describe as the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud case. While many defendants were Somalis, most were U.S. citizens, and the alleged ringleader was white. Prosecutors have raised their estimate of the thefts to $300 million from an original $250 million, with the number of defendants growing to 78. These cases are still working their way through the court system, yet Republican candidates for governor and other offices in 2026 are staking their hopes on voters blaming Governor Tim Walz for failing to prevent the losses to taxpayers.

Historical Context: Terrorism Cases

Authorities in Minnesota struggled for years to stem the recruiting of young Somali men by the Islamic State group and al-Shabab. The problem first surfaced in 2007 when more than 20 young men went to Somalia. While most cases were resolved years ago, another came to light earlier this year when a 23-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. In the 2010s, the Islamic State group also found recruits in Minnesota’s Somali community, with authorities saying roughly a dozen left to join militants in Syria.

Political Representation and Community Response

Somali Americans have become a significant force in Minnesota politics. The best-known Somali American is Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose district includes Minneapolis and who is a frequent target of Trump. Several other Somali Americans have served in the Minnesota Legislature and the Minneapolis and St. Paul city councils. State Sen. Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist, finished second in the Minneapolis mayoral election in November to incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey.

Local Somali community leaders, along with allies like Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have pushed back against those who might blame the broader Somali community for isolated cases of fraud. They emphasize that the actions of individuals should not be used to stigmatize an entire community.

Opinion: The Dangerous Path of Collective Punishment

The targeting of Minnesota’s Somali community represents one of the most dangerous assaults on American values in recent memory. When a sitting president declares that an entire ethnic group “contributes nothing” while most members of that community are American citizens, we have entered perilous territory that threatens the very foundations of our democracy.

This rhetoric echoes the darkest chapters of American history, where entire communities were scapegoated and targeted based on ethnicity rather than individual actions. The principle of equal protection under the law – enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment – is fundamentally undermined when government officials engage in ethnic profiling and collective punishment.

The administration’s focus on the Somali community appears strategically timed to create political division and capitalize on fear. By amplifying isolated incidents of fraud and connecting them to terrorism without evidence, the administration is engaging in the kind of demagoguery that the framers of our Constitution feared most. This tactic not only undermines trust in our institutions but also creates dangerous divisions within our society.

The Constitutional Imperative

The Bill of Rights exists precisely to protect minority communities from the tyranny of the majority. When government officials target an ethnic group for political gain, they violate the spirit of the First Amendment’s protections against government establishment of religion or prohibition of free exercise, the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection.

The fact that 87% of foreign-born Somalis in Minnesota are naturalized U.S. citizens makes this targeting even more egregious. These individuals have gone through the legal process to become Americans, sworn allegiance to our Constitution, and deserve the full protection of our laws. To treat them as second-class citizens based on their ethnicity is a betrayal of everything America stands for.

The Human Cost of Division

Beyond the constitutional implications, this targeting creates real human suffering. Somali Americans who have built lives, businesses, and families in Minnesota now face increased fear and uncertainty. Children growing up in these communities internalize the message that their government views them as less than fully American. This psychological toll cannot be overstated and represents a profound failure of leadership.

The administration’s actions also undermine national security by eroding trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. When communities fear that interactions with government agencies might lead to targeting based on ethnicity rather than individual actions, they become less likely to cooperate with legitimate law enforcement efforts.

The Path Forward: Reaffirming American Values

We must categorically reject the politicization of ethnicity and reaffirm our commitment to the principles that have made America a beacon of hope for generations. This means:

1. Demanding evidence-based policymaking rather than rhetoric-driven targeting
2. Insisting that all Americans receive equal protection under the law regardless of ethnicity
3. Supporting community leaders who bridge divides rather than create them
4. Protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens, especially vulnerable minorities
5. Recognizing that our strength comes from our diversity, not in spite of it

The Somali community in Minnesota, like all immigrant communities, contributes to the rich tapestry of American life. Their stories of resilience, their cultural contributions, and their participation in our democracy make America stronger. To suggest otherwise is not only factually incorrect but fundamentally un-American.

We must stand united against any attempt to divide Americans based on ethnicity, religion, or national origin. Our Constitution demands nothing less, and our future as a pluralistic democracy depends on it. The targeting of Minnesota’s Somali community is a test of our national character – one we must pass by reaffirming our commitment to the values of liberty, equality, and justice for all.