Trump Slams Somali Immigrants, Urges Deportation Plan/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump sparked fresh controversy by calling for Somali immigrants to leave the U.S. and return to their homeland. His remarks followed unverified reports linking Somali Americans to fraud and terrorism. Political leaders and immigrant advocates have condemned his statements as discriminatory and unfounded.
Somali Deportation Comments Quick Looks
- Trump claimed Somali immigrants are “a burden” on U.S. systems
- Called Somalia “a bad country” and urged Somalis to “go back”
- Vowed to end temporary legal protections for Somali refugees
- Reignited attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling her “garbage”
- Critics called the remarks racist and constitutionally questionable
- Omar and local officials pushed back, citing immigrant contributions
- Claims tied to unproven reports linking Somalis to terrorist funding
Deep Look: Trump’s Anti-Somali Remarks Ignite Political and Legal Firestorm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump reignited a long-standing controversy over immigration this week by calling for Somali immigrants in the United States to return to their country of origin, claiming they contribute nothing to American society and overburden public support systems. The remarks drew fierce criticism from lawmakers, immigrant rights groups, and constitutional scholars.
Trump’s statements came during a Cabinet meeting where he responded to recent violence involving an Afghan-born suspect, using the incident to broaden his criticism to other immigrant communities, particularly Somali Americans. “They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country,” he said, adding that Somalia is “a bad country for a reason,” and urging Somali Americans to “go back to where they came from and fix it.”
His comments made no distinction between Somali refugees, naturalized citizens, or U.S.-born descendants of Somali immigrants — a point that has sparked further outrage among civil rights groups and Democratic leaders.
Unverified Allegations Fuel Anti-Somali Sentiment
The escalation follows the publication of unconfirmed allegations in City Journal by conservative activist Christopher Rufo. The piece suggested, without named sources, that funds stolen from Minnesota’s public assistance programs may have been funneled to al-Shabab, a militant group in Somalia affiliated with al-Qaida.
Though the article lacked verifiable evidence, Trump seized on it to push a broader narrative of Somali corruption and terrorism, using social media to label Minnesota “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.” He also claimed he would terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals — a humanitarian designation that shields people from deportation if their home countries are unsafe.
According to an August congressional report, only about 705 Somalis across the U.S. currently benefit from TPS, making the potential legal move more symbolic than substantive — but no less controversial.
Attacks on Ilhan Omar Resurface
In the same breath, Trump renewed his ongoing personal attacks on Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who arrived in the U.S. in 1995 as a Somali refugee.
“Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage,” Trump said, echoing past derogatory remarks. He further suggested that Somali immigrants “do nothing but complain” and fail to contribute to society.
Omar swiftly responded via social media, calling Trump’s fixation on her “creepy” and suggesting he “gets the help he desperately needs.”
Backlash from Minnesota Leaders and Immigrant Advocates
Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the United States, quickly became the focal point of national debate. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned Trump’s comments as divisive and misleading.
“They have started businesses and created jobs. They have added to the cultural fabric of what Minneapolis is,” said Frey. “To again villainize an entire group is ridiculous.”
Immigration law experts also questioned whether the president has the unilateral authority to cancel TPS without congressional or judicial approval. Several human rights organizations said Trump’s statements risk inflaming racial tensions and inciting hate crimes against immigrant communities.
While Trump has a history of targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority nations, his recent comments mark one of the most direct verbal assaults on a specific African immigrant community. Critics argue that such rhetoric threatens America’s values of inclusion, justice, and opportunity.
As Trump eyes a potential 2024 political comeback, his inflammatory remarks continue to serve as a litmus test for the GOP’s stance on immigration — and as a rallying cry for both supporters and opponents.
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