US President Donald Trump has said he does not want Somali immigrants in the US, telling reporters they should go back to where they came from and their country is no good for a reason.
I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you, he said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Trump claimed the US would go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.
His comments coincided with reports of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) planning an operation targeting the large Somali community in Minnesota. Local officials condemned the operation, fearing it might wrongfully target American citizens who appear to be from Somalia.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities, host one of the largest Somali populations in the world and the largest in the United States.
Trump stated during the meeting: Somebody will say, 'Oh, that's not politically correct.' I don't care. I don't want them in our country. He also dismissed Somalia as being a country with no structure and criticized Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress, describing her as incompetent.
In response, Omar stated on social media, His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.
The planned ICE operation aims to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities, with reports indicating that hundreds of individuals may be affected. Local leaders highlight that the majority of the Somali community consists of American citizens.
Critics argue that the operation will lead to due process violations, further stigmatizing an already vulnerable community.
In light of recent events, including a shooting incident in Washington, the Trump administration has increased its immigration enforcement efforts, intensifying scrutiny on immigrant communities.
Democratic leaders in Minnesota have made it clear that they oppose these tactics, asserting that they do not resolve underlying issues but rather contribute to fear and division among legal residents.
