White House border advisor Tom Homan defended a heightened immigration enforcement focus on Somalis in Minnesota, framing it as a public safety mission. His comments come days after President Donald Trump referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage” who should be removed from the country, sparking fierce criticism.
What Did the Border Czar Say?
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is concentrating on threats to public safety and national security. He specifically pointed to Minnesota, claiming, “We also know there’s a large illegal Somali community there, that there’s a large illegal alien community there.” He vowed that ICE would “arrest every illegal alien that we find,” though he provided no evidence for the claim of a large undocumented population. Homan denied that recent ICE activities were a direct response to Trump’s remarks.
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How Has the Local Somali Community Responded?
The comments have drawn sharp condemnation from local leaders and the community’s most prominent figure, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey has stated that the vast majority of the estimated 80,000 Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens. Rep. Omar, a Somali-American Democrat from Minnesota, called the president’s earlier language “completely disgusting.” She added, “These are Americans that he is calling garbage, and we feel like there is an unhealthy obsession that he has on the Somali community.”
Who Are the Somalis in Minnesota?
Most Somalis in the state arrived as refugees fleeing a devastating civil war that began in 1991, with the U.S. starting to issue visas in 1992. Many have since become naturalized citizens. The community is well-established in the Twin Cities area. The debate centers on the distinction between this legal refugee resettlement and claims of widespread illegal presence.
Is There Broader Political Reaction?
While the Trump administration’s immigration stance has general support from Republican lawmakers, some have expressed concern about its impact. Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah told CNN that a lack of transparency from ICE can create unnecessary fear in communities. Regarding Trump’s remarks about Somalis, Curtis advocated for a more welcoming approach, saying, “If more of us would do that, it would matter less what an individual said.”
Tensions in a major immigrant center are raised by the scenario, which reveals a stark contrast between the administration’s enforcement narrative and the reality as reported by local officials and community people.
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