WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used his Thanksgiving message to attack Somali-Americans and propose sweeping new immigration restrictions, singling out Minnesota and offering no evidence for claims that refugees are driving crime and economic turmoil.
In remarks posted online, Trump asserted that “hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota,” and described “Somalian gangs” roaming the streets. He did not provide data to support the statements. He also used a slur for people with intellectual disabilities in reference to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and insulted Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., continuing a yearslong feud with the congresswoman.
- Advertisement -
Trump outlined hard-line proposals that would dramatically curtail immigration if enacted, saying he would “pause migration from all Third World countries,” terminate what he called “millions of Biden illegal admissions,” end federal benefits for noncitizens, “denaturalize” migrants who “undermine domestic tranquility,” and deport any foreign national he deemed a public charge or security risk.
The former president further blamed what he called a “refugee burden” for social problems in the United States and criticized President Joe Biden’s approach to border and asylum policy. Trump did not specify how his plan would be implemented, which agencies would enforce it, or how it would withstand legal challenges.
Walz, a Democrat, pushed back after Trump cited alleged fraud cases in Minnesota as justification to strip protections from Somalis. “Release the MRI results,” the governor posted, without elaborating. Omar did not immediately respond publicly to the latest comments, though she has previously denounced Trump’s language toward immigrants and Muslims as dangerous.
Separately, the administration said it is halting the processing of asylum seekers following a National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C., according to an alert from The Associated Press. Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, wrote on X that applications would be paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” One of the two soldiers shot in the incident later died, authorities said.
It was not immediately clear how long the asylum pause would last, which countries or categories it would affect, or whether the action would be challenged in court. Trump’s broader vow to block migration from “all Third World countries” would mark one of the most far-reaching restrictions in modern U.S. history if pursued, with significant ramifications for refugee resettlement, family reunification and employment-based visas.
Minnesota has one of the nation’s largest Somali-American communities, centered in the Twin Cities. Community leaders have long condemned rhetoric that paints immigrants as criminals, arguing it fuels discrimination and ignores the social and economic contributions of refugees and their U.S.-born children. Trump’s latest remarks intensified those concerns, even as he repeated familiar themes from his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
What to know now:
- Trump accused Somali refugees in Minnesota of driving crime and disorder, without evidence, and insulted Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar.
- He pledged to “pause migration from all Third World countries,” end federal benefits for noncitizens and pursue denaturalization in certain cases.
- USCIS said asylum processing is paused in the wake of a D.C. National Guard shooting; details on scope and duration remain unclear.
- Legal experts say sweeping immigration bans, especially based on broad country categories, would face immediate court scrutiny.
Trump’s message underscores how immigration—and specifically rhetoric about Somali-Americans in Minnesota—remains a central pillar of his political strategy, even as the practical and legal contours of his proposed actions remain uncertain.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
