The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has sparked a new wave of outrage by referring to Somali immigrants with derogatory and racist terms.
During a cabinet meeting held this Tuesday, Trump attacked the Somali community in the U.S., particularly settled in the state of Minnesota, and called for their immediate expulsion from the country.
The words used by the Republican leader have been described by community leaders and local authorities as an unprecedented xenophobic attack.
"I don't want them in our country."
Trump's diatribe began with criticisms of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for his alleged negligence in a case of fraud involving state social services, in which Somali immigrants were reportedly implicated. However, the former president's rhetoric quickly escalated into a widespread condemnation of the entire community.
"I've heard that they've scammed billions of dollars in that state. And they contribute nothing. (...) I'll be honest with you. Some will say 'this is not politically correct.' I don't care. I don't want them in our country," he stated.
In another passage, Trump added: "They are not people who work, people who say 'let's make this place great.' All they do is complain. (...) They say this is not paradise, but when they come from hell and only complain, we don't want them in our country. They should go back to where they came from."
In the same meeting, Trump went further and openly disrespected the African country: “Your country is a disgrace. I don't want you in the United States.”
Then he added that Somalia “is hardly a country. They have nothing. They are just killing each other. There is no structure.”
According to Trump, the Somalis have destroyed the United States and should be "removed as soon as possible."
"We can take one path or another, and we will go down the wrong one if we continue to accept garbage in our country," he stated.
These words generated an immediate reaction of rejection, both inside and outside the country.
In Somalia, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre stated that the best course of action was to “ignore” the comments: “Trump has insulted many countries, including Nigeria and South Africa. There are things that do not require a response; we simply let them pass.”
The Somali Foreign Minister, Ali Omar, was more forceful, describing Trump's words as "false" and "an insult to our resilience and sacrifice."
"We must stay united, protect our dignity, and show the world that we are not pawns of anyone," he expressed.
These statements are part of a rhetoric that the leader has been promoting for some time, which reached another peak this past weekend when he imposed a suspension on asylum processing for citizens from 19 countries, including Somalia.
Ilhan Omar and Trump's personal target
In his attack, Trump also directed insults at the Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia and represents Minnesota in the House of Representatives.
"For years I have seen her complain about our Constitution, about how it is being treated poorly. […] It’s garbage. Her friends are garbage," she said. She also described her as "incompetent" and "really bad."
Omar responded on his official X account: “Your obsession with me is concerning. I hope you get the help you desperately need.”
A migration operation focused in Minnesota
At the same time as these statements, government sources confirmed that the Trump administration is preparing a large-scale immigration operation in Minnesota, deploying over 100 agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The goal would be irregular Somali immigrants.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, also participated in the cabinet meeting and asserted—without evidence—that "half of the immigrants living in Minnesota have submitted fraudulent visa applications."
Noem directly blamed Governor Walz for “illegally bringing” people who, according to her, “never should have been in this country.”
These claims were rejected by the local authorities.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, stated that the city "will continue to defend our residents," while Governor Walz urged against "indiscriminately" attacking immigrants: "That is not a real solution to the problem."
Jamal Osman, a councilman in Minneapolis and representative of the city's largest Somali community, attempted to calm the fears of his fellow citizens: “I know many families are scared tonight, but I want you to know that the city and I are here to support you.”
"I'm not trash": the response from the community
The emotional impact on Somali citizens has been profound. Hamse Warfe, a businessman and educational leader in Minneapolis, stated in remarks collected by AP.
"I'm not trash." Warfe, who came to the U.S. as a child from Somalia, has successfully founded several businesses and now leads a national educational organization.
"The words matter a lot, especially when it is the President of the United States who is speaking," he added.
The Somali community in Minnesota—the largest in the country with about 84,000 residents—has been a model of integration for decades. Many of its members have served as city councilors, state legislators, and community leaders.
Trump's narrative, however, portrays them as a "parasite" group that "does not contribute."
An increasingly radical immigration agenda
Trump's statements coincide with a toughening of his immigration agenda.
The leader recently ordered the suspension of all immigration procedures—including applications for permanent residency and naturalization—for citizens of 19 countries, including Somalia.
“Citizenship is a privilege, not a right”, he stated.
Immigration lawyers have reported the cancellation of interviews and naturalization ceremonies without prior notice. Some applicants learned about the suspension upon arriving at USCIS offices, where they were given no explanation.
Trump's words about Somali immigrants not only dehumanize thousands of individuals who have contributed to the social and economic fabric of the United States, but also dangerously inflame xenophobic sentiments.
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