Minneapolis

Prominent Somali American advocate detained by ICE in Minneapolis, unsettling a community he helped build MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Omar Jamal, one of Minnesota’s most visible Somali American civic voices, in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, federal officials and his attorney confirmed. He was later transferred to the Freeborn County jail in Albert Lea, a facility that holds federal immigration detainees. What we know Jamal, 52, was taken into custody by ICE on Friday…

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — Wrestling with the surge of teen violence and drug-related antics in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Uncle Sam has teamed up with Somali elders to revive time-honored conflict resolution techniques in local neighborhoods. At the heart of this initiative is "nabadoonimo," a Somali tradition of peace-pampering through communal chatter and mutual respect. The game plan? Diverting Somali youth from the clutches of gang life and narcotics.The core of this alliance is the Somali Youth Link, a grassroots squad…

The Minneapolis Police Department bolstered its ranks by welcoming 23 new officers, among whom two made history. Meet Ikran Mohamed, a Somali-American woman and Lesly Vera, who moved from Mexico to the U.S. at the tender age of four and now holds permanent residency. Despite these promising additions, Chief Brian O'Hara expressed his frustration to WCCO’s Adam and Jordana, highlighting the influx of animosity aimed at these trailblazers. "It’s appalling," O'Hara lamented. "I failed to foresee the sheer repulsiveness,…

Four years have zipped by since George Floyd’s tragic passing, shaking the law enforcement community. During that span, scores of officers departed, and fresh recruits were sparse. City officials announced a turning point last month, with recruitment numbers finally climbing.Sitting amidst her fellow graduates at the American Indian Center, Ikran Mohamed beams, fresh from completing the Minneapolis Police Department’s training. Credit: Matt Sepic | MPR NewsThis piece is brought to you courtesy of MPR News in tandem with…

Sharmarke Issa stands accused of orchestrating a staggering $7.6 million of the $50 million heist from the Feeding Our Future (FOF) nutrition program. Out of this, he pocketed a whopping $3.5 million, which he must repay as restitution.A former Somalian refugee and the chair of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), Issa, 40, of Edina, admitted to federal wire fraud charges on Wednesday. Court records reveal he masterminded a complicated money-laundering scheme that siphoned funds meant for feeding children during…