In Minneapolis’ Cedar‑Riverside neighborhood, Somali Minnesotans are on edge after President Trump posted on Oct. 8 urging the state’s residents to “fight back” against Somali illegal immigrants. Community members say the president’s rhetoric fuels hostility and threatens the safety of families who have built lives here for decades.
Community members describe a climate of fear
“We feel like he’s opening doors for hate, and he’s giving people a green light to attack people,” said Najib Hirsi, 40, a longtime resident. Others echo his concern. “I feel bad when I see the social media. We have good people and we have bad people. Five fingers are not the same,” said Abdi Mohamed, 34, also of Cedar‑Riverside.
Many Somali families fled war‑torn Somalia in the 1990s, seeking safety and opportunity. Today, they are U.S. citizens who run businesses, pay taxes, and contribute to their neighborhoods. Yet the recent surge of negative attention—including a federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home, three shootings linked to what law enforcement calls “Somali American gangs,” and the arrest of a local teenager in an alleged terror plot at the Mall of America—has amplified anxiety.
President Trump’s stance
President Trump framed the Somali community as part of a broader fraud narrative, calling Somali Americans “garbage” in a December remark and again highlighting them in his 2026 State of the Union address. He claimed Rep. Omar mistakenly reported a high net worth derived from “money that was stolen” in Minnesota, suggesting the raid was politically motivated to suppress her fifth‑term bid.
Trump’s administration argues that highlighting illegal immigration and fraud protects taxpayers and upholds the rule of law. The president’s office maintains that calling attention to criminal activity is necessary for public safety, not an act of discrimination.
Local response and resilience
Somali elders, women, and girls who wear hijabs report avoiding public spaces out of fear. “We ran from a war‑torn country. My mom brought us here for a better life,” said Jama, 31. “I’m afraid. My mom, she doesn’t even leave the house because of what’s been going on.”
Despite the tension, community members note that gang violence exists in every neighborhood, not just among Somalis. “In every community there’s gang violence. They’re a miniscule part of the community… it shouldn’t shun the whole Somali ethnicity,” said Mohamed Jama of south Minneapolis.
Some white Minnesotans have shown solidarity, gathering at mosques to voice support. “They come around mosques and say, ‘We love Somalis,’ and ‘We stand with Somalis,’” said Mohamed. Yet many still feel uneasy about Trump supporters in the area.
Looking ahead
Local leaders and residents say they will continue focusing on daily life, business, and education while monitoring the political climate. “The Somali community is close to 150,000 people in this state, and most of them are hard‑working people minding their own business,” Hirsi emphasized.
As the 2026 election approaches, the community worries that the president’s comments may be used to sway voters. “He’s just choosing only one community, so he’s just picking us,” said Mohamed Ali, 43. The Somali community remains determined to contribute to Minnesota’s prosperity while seeking protection from inflammatory rhetoric.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
