Somalia’s Prime Minister Responds to Trump Remarks as Immigration Raids Begin in Minnesota
Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has responded to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about Somali immigrants, as reports indicate U.S. immigration authorities are preparing enforcement operations aimed at Somali communities in Minnesota.
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Trump, speaking during a cabinet meeting, said he does not want Somalis in the United States and told them to “go back to where they came from.” He described Somalia as “a bad country” and warned the U.S. would “head in the wrong direction” if it continued admitting what he called “garbage” under refugee programs.
Sources familiar with the situation say immigration authorities have been authorized to target undocumented Somalis living in Minnesota, particularly in neighborhoods with concentrated Somali populations. Hundreds of people could be affected when the operation begins this week, according to these reports.
U.S. immigration officials declined to comment on the reported plan but said anyone residing in the country illegally could be considered a target for enforcement.
Key developments
- Trump escalated criticism of Somali immigrants, using language that prompted immediate concern among Somali communities.
- Reports say immigration authorities are preparing to conduct enforcement operations in Minnesota, with sources indicating the action could affect hundreds.
- Somalia’s prime minister urged restraint, saying such remarks are not new on the global stage and discouraging a major diplomatic confrontation.
Somalia’s response
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Trump’s comments were not unprecedented, noting the U.S. president had made similar statements about other countries in the past. He cited previous remarks about nations including Nigeria and South Africa and said it was “better not to turn the matter into a major dispute.”
Barre’s comments came as Trump intensified his criticism of Somalia, asserting the country lacks a functioning government and that its people live without order. Those remarks have contributed to heightened anxiety among Somali communities in Minnesota as enforcement operations begin.
Enforcement posture in the U.S.
While immigration officials declined to address the reported plan targeting Minnesota directly, their stance underscores a broader policy that individuals without legal status can be prioritized for arrest and removal. The reported authorization to focus on Somali nationals and neighborhoods where they are concentrated suggests a coordinated effort that could reach families with mixed immigration statuses.
Community impact and next steps
Word of the planned operations has reverberated through Somali communities, where families are weighing legal options and making contingency plans. Advocacy groups and attorneys generally advise those at risk to prepare identification documents, know their rights during enforcement encounters and avoid opening doors to officers without a warrant—guidance that aligns with longstanding immigrant-rights practices. Officials did not say how long the operation would last or whether it might extend beyond Minnesota.
The situation places U.S.-Somalia ties under fresh scrutiny, even as Barre called for calm and avoided escalating the rhetoric. For now, the practical effects are likely to be felt first on the ground in Minnesota neighborhoods bracing for enforcement actions, with potential ripple effects across other Somali communities in the United States.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
