(MINNESOTA) Somali-Americans in Minnesota are condemning remarks by President Donald Trump calling Somali immigrants “garbage” and saying he does not want them in the United States ??. Community members describe the statement as “not becoming of a president” and deeply hurtful. The comments have sent shockwaves through the state, home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, where many are citizens, permanent residents, or refugees who have lived here for decades.

Many residents say Trump’s language doesn’t just target immigration policy but their sense of belonging and physical safety. Several report feeling suddenly unsafe in neighborhoods they call home.

Immediate reactions from the community

Bushra Mohammed, a Somali‑American community advocate in Minnesota, called the remarks “hurtful” and described the current climate as “harassment disguised as law enforcement.” She stressed that the vast majority of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens or people with legal status, and that the number of undocumented Somalis is small — “only reaches into the hundreds.”

“Hatred is very exhausting,” Mohammed said, explaining that many community members are now afraid to leave their homes and are carrying extra identification, including passports, because they fear being stopped or questioned. For many, the remarks revive past trauma from war and displacement.

Across Minneapolis and St. Paul, leaders and residents described confusion and fear, especially among elders who worry for their children and grandchildren. Many Somali‑Americans who have spent most of their lives in the United States say they now suddenly feel like outsiders in their own city.

“This is my home and I don’t want to feel unsafe in my home,” one young Somali‑American woman said, her voice breaking as she described friends who now avoid simple errands like going to the grocery store.

Parents report answering questions from children who ask why the president would call people like them “garbage.”

Political and official responses

• Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minnesota’s 5th District) denounced the remarks as “bigoted, xenophobic, Islamophobic,” saying the former president’s “obsession” with her and the Somali community was “creepy.”
  She pointed to past comments — such as when Trump described some African nations as “shitholes” — to argue that this rhetoric is not new and previously drew international condemnation.

• Omar warned that when a president singles out a community, it “puts real people in danger.” Her warnings echo community concerns about safety and belonging.

• At the state level, Senator Omar Fateh emphasized that “language matters”, noting that hateful speech has real consequences beyond campaign rallies. He highlighted reports of U.S. citizens briefly detained and released, illustrating how immigration enforcement can spill over onto people who have every right to live and work in the country.

VisaVerge.com reports that residents see a direct line between hostile campaign language and growing local discrimination against their community.

Facts and context about immigration status

Advocates stress:

• The number of undocumented Somalis in Minnesota is small — measured in the hundreds, not thousands.
• Most Somali residents are:
  • Neighbors, friends, coworkers, and students
  • Taxpayers and small business owners
  • Families raising children and participating in community life

To explain how Somali families built lives in the United States, leaders point to established pathways such as refugee laws, family‑based immigration, and naturalization rules outlined on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website USCIS.gov. Community speakers say Trump’s “garbage” comment erases those legal paths and reduces their story to a slur.

Pushback against collective blame

Mohammed and other advocates have pushed back against using isolated fraud or misconduct cases to smear an entire community.

• She warned that painting Somalis “with the same brush” because of a few individuals is “the definition of racism.”
• She said some people now feel free to treat Somali neighbors as suspects first and citizens or coworkers second.
• Her message: Somali‑Americans are not a threat but “integral parts of American society” who deserve the same respect as anyone else.

Local solidarity and faith leaders’ responses

Local officials and faith leaders have called for solidarity, arguing that attacks on Somali Minnesotans harm the state’s social fabric.

• Interfaith gatherings and community meetings have focused on reminding neighbors that Somali families fled war in Somalia ?? and chose Minnesota because they believed it offered safety and opportunity.
• Leaders worry that national figures using words like “garbage” give permission for bullying, harassment, and even violence locally.
• They urge neighbors to show up for each other and speak out against hate so young people can grow up feeling safe.

Historical context and intergenerational impact

For many Somali families, the controversy recalls earlier battles over:

• Refugee resettlement
• Travel bans
• Campaign rhetoric that cast Muslims as suspect

Older residents remember arriving years ago, learning English, finding jobs, and putting down roots in neighborhoods now home to mosques, small businesses, and community centers. Young Somali‑Americans — many born in the United States — say they are tired of defending their right to exist where they already consider home. They fear these messages will follow their children into schools and workplaces.

Resilience and calls to action

Despite the pain, the community emphasizes deep resilience built over years of rebuilding lives far from Somalia.

They point to concrete achievements as evidence of their roots in Minnesota:

• Graduates and students
• Healthcare workers and professionals
• Small business owners
• Elected officials

At the same time, they call on allies to act:

• Speak up when friends or coworkers repeat demeaning language
• Refuse silence — because silence emboldens hate
• Show up at community meetings, interfaith events, and local gatherings

Community members say they will continue daily life — going to work, school, and prayer — insisting that Minnesota is home and their community is worth far more than campaign “garbage.”