Trump singles out Minnesota's Somali community after D.C. shooting
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U.S. and Somali flags held up in June 2011 in Minneapolis, Minn. Photo: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Minnesota is home to the largest population of Somali residents in the U.S., and they have been receiving President Trump's vitriol as he moves to restrict immigration.
Why it matters: Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric after a suspect from Afghanistan was accused of fatally shooting one National Guard member and wounding another just blocks from the White House.
- Though the suspect is from Afghanistan, Trump's response has also focused on Somali immigrants to Minnesota, whom he has repeatedly singled out over the years.
- Somalia was among the countries targeted in a June travel ban, and the administration is revoking protections for immigrants from that country.
Read more about Somalis in Minnesota:
Why did Somalis immigrate to the U.S.?
State of play: Most Somalis who now live in Minnesota came to the U.S. as refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war and decades-long humanitarian crisis, according to the Minnesota Historical Society Library.
- A surge of immigration occurred in the 1990s after the outbreak of civil war combined with years of famine, flood and drought.
The intrigue: Freelance photojournalist Arthur Nazaryan called Minneapolis "the cultural hub of the Somali diaspora," per CNN. He launched a photo project meant to humanize Somalis in the U.S. amid political scapegoating.
Threat level: Al-Shabaab in Somalia is one of al-Qaeda's strongest affiliates, per the Council on Foreign Relations.
- Al-Shabaab has challenged government relief efforts to recent droughts and famine.
- The U.S. military executed at least 32 strikes in Somalia this year — more than double the previous year's tally.
How many Somalis are in Minnesota?
By the numbers: Somali residents made up 1.05% of Minnesota's population as of 2023, per the World Population Review.
- About 61,000 Somalis live in Minnesota, followed by about 26,000 in Ohio (0.22% of the state's population.)
- As of March, 705 Somalis were approved for Temporary Protected Status, which prevents them from being removed from the U.S. regardless of their immigration status, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Trump administration threats
Driving the news: Trump on Thursday ordered a reexamination of green card holders from Somalia and 18 other countries after an Afghan immigrant was arrested in connection with the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
- In response, Trump has ordered new restrictions on immigration from a host of countries, not just Afghanistan.
- "Somalians have caused a lot of trouble," he said on Thursday. They're ripping us off for a lot of money. There's a tremendous amount of money going back to Somalia. What the hell are we paying money to Somalia for?"
Zoom out: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday defended a threat from Trump to end Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, saying "it was always meant to be temporary." Such a change would require 60 days' notice.
Lawmaker responses
The big picture: The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, community advocates and faith leaders gathered at the State Capitol on Monday to show support for Somali Minnesotans.
- Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who is from Somalia, vowed to help impacted constituents.
The other side: Many congressional Republicans have joined Trump's call to increase deportations — particularly of Muslims — following the D.C. shooting.
The White House referred Axios to the president's comments.
Go deeper: All the nations who've lost immigrant protections under Trump
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the White House's response.
