During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Donald Trump made statements regarding Somali immigrants in the United States. He expressed a preference for them to return to their home country and address its conditions, stating that he did not want them in the U.S.
President's Statements on Contributions and Origin
President Trump cited reasons for his stance, including claims that Somali residents are overly reliant on U.S. social safety nets and contribute minimally to the country. He stated, "They contribute nothing. I don't want them in our country," and further added, "Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don't want them in our country." The President's remarks did not differentiate between Somali citizens and non-citizens residing in the U.S.
These comments followed an administration announcement to halt asylum decisions, occurring days after a shooting incident in Washington involving an individual originally from Afghanistan. President Trump subsequently referenced this event in discussions concerning immigrants from various nations, including Somalia.
Allegations and Policy Pledges
Last week, President Trump had stated via social media his intention to send Somalis "back to where they came from." He also alleged that Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali community in the U.S., functions as "a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity." This statement followed the publication of unsubstantiated allegations by conservative activist Christopher Rufo, citing unnamed sources, that funds from Minnesota programs had been diverted to al-Shabab, a militant group linked to al-Qaida operating in Somalia.
President Trump also committed to terminating temporary legal protections for Somalis residing in Minnesota. A report prepared for Congress in August indicated that approximately 705 individuals nationwide are covered by Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Somalia.
Criticism of Representative Omar and Immigrant Characterizations
The President reiterated his criticism of Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who emigrated from Somalia in 1995 after her family fled civil war and spent time in a refugee camp in Kenya. President Trump referred to her as "garbage" and described her associates similarly, stating, "We can go one way or the other, and we're going to go the wrong way, if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage."
He further characterized Somali immigrants by saying, "These aren't people that work. These aren't people that say, 'Let's go, c'mon. Let's make this place great.' These are people that do nothing but complain."
Responses from Officials
In response to President Trump's statements, Representative Omar posted on social media, commenting on the President's "obsession" with her. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also responded, characterizing President Trump's message as "wrong." Mayor Frey highlighted the contributions of Somali immigrants to Minneapolis, noting their role in starting businesses, creating jobs, and enriching the city's cultural framework. He asserted that "to again, villainize an entire group is ridiculous under any circumstances."