The federal government is increasing its scrutiny of Somali immigrants by removing temporary protected statuses and deploying more federal agents, leaving the Minnesota Somali community worried for the future.  

​President Donald Trump said he wanted to end Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Somali immigrants in a social media post in late November. In recent days, the federal administration has increased its efforts to remove Somali immigrants in Minnesota.

On Tuesday, The New York Times found the Department of Homeland Security would investigate immigration enforcement of Somali immigrants.

TPS is an immigration designation given to eligible people from specific countries that the federal government has determined are unsafe to return to, according to Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Managing Attorney Danielle Hendrickson.

Hendrickson said there are around 700 Somali immigrants with TPS nationwide.​

Minnesota Immigration Center Policy Director Julia Decker said the DHS needs to assess Somalia’s condition before ending TPS.

​“They are supposed to assess the country’s conditions,” Decker said. “So in the home country, they’re supposed to look at ‘Oh, have things gotten better? Is it safe for people to go back?’ Because the whole point is that there was a humanitarian crisis, and it wasn’t safe for people to return.” 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem must announce the termination of TPS for the country, but individuals can file lawsuits.

​Trump’s accusations come after federal authorities filed fraud charges against multiple organizations in Minnesota’s government housing services, the Minnesota Daily reported.  

​In a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said Somali immigrants contribute nothing.

“I don’t want them in our country, to be honest,” Trump said in the meeting. “Their country stinks, and we don’t want them in our country.” 

His accusations have led to criticism from Minnesota Democratic leaders such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL-Minn.) and Sen. Zaynab Mohamed (DFL-Minn.). 

In a press conference on Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Former St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the deployment of federal agents is un-American.​

“Targeting Somali people means that due process will be violated, mistakes will be made,” Frey said.​

Frey signed an executive order banning federal, state and local agencies from using city-owned parking lots for immigration enforcement operations.

Sen. Doron Clark (DFL-Minn.)  said he is not surprised by Trump’s recent remarks.

“He’s going to find whatever excuse he can find. This is part of his standard playbook to find ways to divide us,” Clark said. “If it wasn’t this, he would have found some other spurious reason as well.” 

Community’s response

Former St. Paul City Council Member Kassim Busuri said Trump’s recent comments and proposed changes to TPS have left many Somalis feeling targeted by their own government.

According to 2023 data from Minnesota Compass, the Somali community in Minnesota is estimated at about 80,000 people, and 78.1% of the Somali population lives in the Twin Cities. Busuri said only a small fraction of Somali people currently hold TPS.

“These people are loved ones. They haven’t committed any crimes. They are lawfully in the country,” Busuri said. “Donald Trump is talking about getting rid of ‘illegals.’ These are not illegals. So what is he trying to get rid of?”

Busuri, who is also the executive director of the Minnesota Dawah Institute in St. Paul, said TPS holders must pass background checks and cannot have criminal records to maintain their status.

Busuri believes the threat to revoke TPS is a misuse of presidential power.

“This is a clear abuse of power,” Busuri said. “These people have a legal standing to be here. But suddenly, because he feels offended by another politician, he’s targeting Somalis for no reason.”

Trump referred to Somali Americans as “garbage” during a recent speech, a statement deeply felt across Somali neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Busuri said.

“More than 80% of Somalis have been U.S. citizens since 2000. Many of our kids are born here,” Busuri said. “To be called garbage when you’ve done nothing wrong makes no sense.”

Busuri said younger Somali Minnesotans are especially shaken. The rhetoric encourages those who already hold anti-immigrant views to act on them, he added.

“We see attacks at mosques. We see attacks on regular people walking,” Busuri said. “The xenophobia and racism will be amplified because of his statements.”

Despite those fears, Busuri said Minnesota remains a state where immigrant communities and longtime residents generally coexist and support one another.

“In Minnesota, our neighbors love each other,” Busuri said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Somali, Swedish, Hmong or Irish.”

Busuri said community groups are coordinating safety plans for mosques and cultural centers across the Twin Cities, despite the ongoing support.

Clark said he met with Somali leaders in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood Wednesday. He said the community is helping members of the Somali community learn about their rights and safety. 

“Right now, there is a lot of education going on as to what are your rights. You do not need to open a door to your home to let people in. The only warrant that requires you to open the door is a signed judicial warrant,” Clark said. 

Busuri said Somali Minnesotans have contributed significantly to the state and are taking steps to keep their schools and community centers safe.

Busuri said he does not believe Somalis need to prove their worth or defend their status. Instead, he said he hopes other Minnesotans will speak out.

“When your neighbor is attacked, you should defend them,” Busuri said. “Minnesotans should stand up and say Somali Minnesotans are peaceful people.”

D. Osman, a Somali American who has lived in the United States for more than two decades, said the comment felt like a personal attack. Osman said he did not want to use his full name in the interview.

“He called us a very harsh word, garbage, to other Somalis and me,” Osman said. “It’s very inappropriate. What’s wrong with our government?”

Osman said most Somali Minnesotans are U.S. citizens and have been part of the state for decades, making Trump’s remark especially disturbing.

“I’ve been a U.S. citizen for more than 20 years,” Osman said. “If you don’t care about citizenship, then you’re just targeting our race and where we’re from. That’s the very definition of being racist.”

Minnesota is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the country, according to World Population Review. Osman said many are choosing not to engage directly with Trump’s rhetoric.

“I think the best thing for us to do is just to ignore him,” Osman said. “What can you say to a guy who calls an entire group of people garbage?”