Somali Immigrants Challenge GOP Narratives in Tim Walz’s Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – In the bustling atmosphere of Afrik Grocery located in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, Fardousa Yossuf, a proud Somali immigrant, grabbed my hand and declared herself a “storyteller.”

Her narrative dates back to 1999, a pivotal year when she sought refuge from the tumult of the civil war in Somalia. Over the years, she has witnessed significant transformations: Minneapolis has evolved into a more vibrant and prosperous city. “This is of immigrants’ doing,” remarked Yossuf, a 59-year-old educator who imparts Somali language lessons in local schools. “We’re really enhancing this country.”

However, her community has once again landed in the crosshairs of conservative commentary after Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris selected Minnesota’s own Tim Walz as her running mate.

Shortly after Harris made her announcement, the internet buzzed with unfounded claims that Walz had redesigned the state flag to mimic Somalia’s. Stephen Miller, a former senior advisor to Trump, quickly fanned the flames, suggesting that Harris and Walz aimed to transform the Midwest into “Mogadishu,” the capital of Somalia. A Fox News piece, published just a week post-announcement, insinuated that Walz’s immigration strategies had spawned a surge in Somali gang activity.

Such rhetoric isn’t unprecedented. Donald Trump has zoomed in on Somali immigrants during every campaign cycle since he first threw his hat in the presidential ring in 2016, weaving a local twist into his broader anti-immigration narrative. Before President Biden exited the race, Trump’s strategists claimed Republicans would flip the traditionally blue state this November, echoing similar sentiments from 2020.

This time around, the emergence of a new Democratic ticket has offered Trump an opportunity to hammer on Harris and Walz’s most vulnerable point: immigration and border policy.

“All this is just politics,” Yossuf pointed out during a conversation days before Walz was set to officially secure his party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, roughly 400 miles away.

Yet, she has observed that some of Trump’s pledges have sent shivers through the immigrant populace of Minnesota, including his proposals concerning mass deportations and reinstating a travel ban targeting predominately Muslim nations. Other community members who spoke with USA TODAY echoed her concerns about how the anti-immigrant narratives circulating this election cycle might foster hostility towards newcomers.

“Instilling fear like that isn’t right,” she contended. The majority of East African immigrants she knows came here escaping desperate conditions, and they’ve established their lives in the U.S. legally, working diligently and fulfilling their tax obligations due to refugee resettlement policies. “To belittle them and suggest they amount to nothing is unjust.”

According to Minnesota Compass data, over 44,000 residents were born in Somalia, with an additional 29,000 first-generation Somali Americans calling the state home.

Since the initial wave of Somali immigration, the community has cultivated thriving cultural and business enclaves, celebrated the academic achievements of their children, and elected representatives to various levels of government, from city councils to Congress.

Nevertheless, they have encountered resistance within the predominantly white and Christian state of 5.7 million. Vandalism, violence, and underlying racial tensions have plagued relations. Somali immigrants have faced the brunt of local campaigns against refugee resettlement, coupled with fears of targeted policing. The community’s most recognized elected figure, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, has consistently been a target of anti-Muslim vitriol and threats, including those from Trump.

Nonetheless, many Minnesotans remain hospitable. Around a dozen Somali community leaders and advocates shared sentiments with USA TODAY, remarking that generous state policies regarding refugee resettlement—most recently backed by Walz—have rendered Minnesota an attractive sanctuary for East Africans fleeing perilous circumstances.

In the limelight of national politics

Trump’s visit in July to Minnesota—during a rally in St. Cloud, where local opposition to Somali resettlement recently attracted national scrutiny—was marked by incendiary rhetoric. He claimed Harris sought to “deposit thousands of jihadist sympathizers in Minnesota.”

“You know that, you already have enough,” he quipped. “How in the world do you elect congresspeople like Ilhan Omar, the first Somali American in Congress?”

“On Day 1 of the Trump presidency, I will restore the travel ban, suspend refugee admissions, and keep the terrorists out of our country,” he vowed, referring to the controversial 2017 travel ban that affected predominantly Muslim nations—including Somalia—amid his comments on the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel.

In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Trump’s campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, asserted that Harris is permitting “a border invasion of illegal immigrants from all corners of the globe.”

She argued, “This situation is detrimental to ALL Americans, particularly minority communities residing in urban areas, where illegal immigrants are siphoning housing resources and engaging in horrific crimes.” She continued, emphasizing, “President Trump prioritizes the welfare of ALL American citizens, including those who immigrated to this country LEGALLY.”

Salman Fiqy, a Republican who recently lost his state House primary, backs Trump and attended the St. Cloud rally. He believes Republicans could appeal to Somali constituents, who often align with the GOP on social values, if they adjusted their approach.

“They’re making the same blunder they did in 2020. It’s quite tragic,” Fiqy lamented. Biden won over Minnesota by 7.2 percentage points in 2020. “I hoped the Republican Party would wise up and shift away from race-based, populist tactics to engage their base. It’s why they seem to be losing traction now, honestly.”

In Cedar-Riverside, known as “Little Mogadishu,” immigrants and their families savor the flavors of Somali cuisine in a range of restaurants wafting scents of spices such as cumin, coriander, and turmeric. They shop for halal meats and camel milk in grocery stores, while local political rallies, social services, and community events are advertised in both Somali and English.

Nearby, a spacious marketplace buzzes with stalls showcasing Somali clothing, household goods, and services aiding newcomers in sending remittances to relatives back in East Africa. The call to prayer resonates five times daily over loudspeakers, beckoning shoppers to the mosque located upstairs.

This cultural hub illustrates a slice of the substantial Somali community that has burgeoned in Minnesota due to generous social services, quality public education, affordable housing, and ample job opportunities, according to Ahmed “Jaffer” Mohamed, a refugee resettlement coordinator at the Minnesota Council of Churches. Besides the sizable Somali population, Minnesota hosts the nation’s second-largest Hmong community, many fleeing Southeast Asia post-Vietnam War.

Walz hasn’t initiated these welcoming policies but has expanded upon them during his six-year tenure. Following Trump’s 2019 executive order granting local and state governments authority to reject incoming refugees, Walz maintained the flow of resettlements. Furthermore, he championed initiatives that provide driver’s licenses, free higher education, and health coverage for undocumented immigrants.

“Minnesota has a robust moral legacy of embracing those seeking refuge,” Walz expressed in a letter to the Trump administration, affirming that the state would steadfastly accept refugees. “They enrich our communities through cultural diversity, enhance our social fabric, and play a vital role in our economic success by starting businesses or promoting existing ones.”

Your inquiries to the Harris-Walz campaign for comment on this story went unanswered, according to USA TODAY.

Rich Stanek, a Republican and former Hennepin County Sheriff, acknowledged the positive aspect of Minnesota’s welcoming nature but still critiqued Walz’s governance.

“The core issue, Gov. Walz, during his six years in office, has embraced a welcoming stance to the point of sidelining local law enforcement,” he remarked. He alleged that Walz has failed to inform police about incoming migrants, neglecting to share crucial details about individuals’ legal status.

Most Somali residents who conversed with USA TODAY professed ignorance concerning Trump’s remarks and the conservative side’s depiction of refugees in Minnesota, but they weren’t astounded, either.

Ahmed Ali, 32, relocated from Somalia to Mankato—home to Walz for many years—almost five years ago. He views Walz favorably, particularly due to the school lunch program he instituted last year. Recently, however, a neighbor expressed a contrasting opinion, suggesting the governor has overly supported undocumented immigrants.

When asked how he felt about this issue as an immigrant, Ali responded, “My neighbor is entitled to question who enters the country if it impacts his life. If there are concerns about job competition or resources, people have the right to question.”

Nevertheless, he criticized Trump for “trying to incite fear among Midwesterners” through statements made during his St. Cloud rally.

“A portion of people lack open-mindedness, having never traveled, never encountered different cultures,” he observed. “Such individuals may fall for Trump’s rhetoric.”

Shifting perceptions regarding immigrant acceptance

From time to time, white Minnesotans have raised grievances concerning their Somali neighbors, or new controversies have ignited distrust. A decade ago, numerous Somali youths fell prey to extremist recruitment, a situation that even drew concern from the Obama administration. Recently, Minnesota’s Somali contingent has been entangled in significant fraud accusations linked to a nonprofit exploiting federal COVID relief funds—this subject now under scrutiny by House Republicans in D.C.

“Somalis are simply like any other human beings. Among them are criminals as well as exemplary citizens,” remarked Abdi Ismail Samatar, a geography professor at the University of Minnesota who immigrated from Somalia.

Overall, the population in Minnesota possesses thoughtful perspectives, Samatar asserted, drawing conclusions from lived experiences as Somali community members have integrated themselves into various professional sectors over the decades.

“For Trump to leverage Somalis for political gain speaks volumes about him rather than the communities he addresses,” Samatar concluded.

As an example, in St. Cloud, where Trump’s recent rally took place and where Somali refugee resettlement has long been contentious, candidates advocating restrictions have faced electoral losses in recent years. Notably, two Somali individuals are currently vying for a local city council seat after outpacing ten other contenders in a packed primary last month.

Hamse Warfa, a Somali Minnesotan, previously served in state governance during the Walz administration and was involved with the State Department under Biden. He now volunteers nationwide for Walz’s campaign.

Warfa acknowledged that the warm attitudes of native Minnesotans have fluctuated over time. “As elections draw near, some politicians unfortunately amplify divisions,” he observed.

“I firmly believe leadership significantly influences outcomes,” he said. He visited St. Cloud before Trump’s rally to engage with the local Somali community, conveying, “My message to Somali Americans is that this is your nation as much as it is for Donald Trump.”

Yossuf, the teacher, resonates with that sentiment.

“Individuals who’ve faced substantial difficulties tend to make the best citizens,” she reflected. “We’re highly motivated to vote because we’ve witnessed the consequences of a lack of democracy.”

Her memories of the authoritarian regimes that plagued Somalia challenge the racial, religious, and ethnic divisions that can obscure the vast opportunities available in her adopted homeland.

“I have traveled through Arabia, Europe, and Africa. America truly stands out. If you comply with the laws and apply yourself, the sky’s the limit,” Yossuf declared. “It’s the only place where I genuinely believe that.”

Embracing the title of storyteller, Yossuf shares stories at local libraries and sings to children in Somali, or perhaps she giggles, “because I just enjoy talking.” She fervently imparts knowledge to others in her community about their rights in Minnesota and the U.S., encouraging them to express their narratives in whatever capacity they can—no matter who possesses the microphone at campaign events.