Trump attacks Somali immigrants ahead of expected Minnesota immigration enforcement

0:00Hey there, it's Elsa Chang. Before we start the show today, our team here wanted to remind everyone that yesterday was Giving Tuesday and it's not too late to support Consider this and everything you love from NPR. We're also thanking Consider This listeners who have already stepped up to donate. People like Andrew in Massachusetts who says, I listen to NPR every day. Love the deep dives on Consider This. Public radio is so important for an informed citizen. It also plays a vital role in more rural areas with less news coverage and access to reporting. I agree. Thank you so much, Andrew. And thank you, listener, if you've already made your gift or if you're an NPR Plus supporter.

0:42If not, sign up today, support public media, and get perks to NPR's podcasts. Join us at plus.npr.org. All right, now to today's episode.

1:00President Trump has stepped up his attacks on immigrants from Somalia. These aren't people that work. These aren't people that say, let's go, come on, let's make this place great. These are people that do nothing but complain. At the end of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump also referred to Somali immigrants as, quote, garbage, singling out Somali-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota. And we will come back to Minnesota in a bit. But first, let's know it's far from the first time that Trump has made inflammatory remarks about immigrant groups, especially those fleeing violence or poverty in their home countries.

1:39Some people call it an invasion. It's like an invasion. In his first term, that's how President Trump described a caravan of migrants heading to the southern U.S.-Mexico border. And as he sought a second term in 2023, he campaigned on the idea that immigrants are, quote, poisoning the blood of our country. They poison mental institutions and prisons all over the world, not just in South America, not just the three or four countries that we think about. But all over the world, they're coming into our country from Africa, from Asia, all over the world. And a year later, Trump made unjustified claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.

2:18They're eating the dogs. In his second term, President Trump has paired that sort of rhetoric with an aggressive campaign to deport undocumented immigrants. The latest developments this week saw the Department of Homeland Security formally announce an immigration enforcement crackdown in New Orleans. And border czar Tom Homan told Fox News that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will increase operations in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Consider this. President Trump regularly describes immigrants as less than human. We will hear the response from Minnesota, home to about 80 ,000 people of the Somali diaspora.

2:59From NPR, I'm Elsa Chang.

3:12It's Consider This from NPR. A few facts about the roughly 80 ,000 people of Somali descent who are now living in Minnesota. Almost all of them are American citizens. A majority were born in the U.S. But this week, President Trump attacks Somali immigrants in racist and xenophobic terms. I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you. Some of you say, oh, that's not politically correct. I don't care. I don't want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul spoke up to defend their Somali community. They also responded to reports that the Trump administration is targeting that community with extra immigration enforcement.

3:54For more on the latest, we reached Matt Sepik of Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul. So what seems to have prompted Trump's statements there? Well, let me say first that Trump and Minnesota's governor, Tim Walls, have been at odds since last year when the governor was former Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. At a cabinet meeting yesterday, the president attacked the Somali-American community here in response to a question about widespread fraud in Minnesota social service programs during the Walls administration. And here is some context. Since late 2022, federal prosecutors here have charged 78 people connected to a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future with stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs.

4:41The convicted ringleader Amy Bach is white, but the majority of the defendants in this case are of Somali descent and most are naturalized U.S. citizens. Trump went on to call Somali Americans, quote, garbage, including one of his fiercest critics, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The Minneapolis Democrat responded, saying, quote, his obsession with me is creepy. And to be clear, neither Walz nor Omar have been implicated in the fraud investigation. Well, Matt, as we mentioned, there have been several reports that the Trump administration is going to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St.

5:17Paul area. So what have city leaders said about that? Well, they were quick to respond. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry denounced the president's comments and said that Somali immigrants have been a key part of the community's fabric for decades. Many are not immigrants. They're second-generation Americans who were born here. Fry said that immigration officials are at major risk of violating the community's constitutional rights. When people are arrested by federal immigration agents, they're going to get the wrong people. They're going to screw it up so badly that they're not just violating habeas corpus, but they are taking away the rights of American citizens.

5:59Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul was with Fry yesterday at a news conference and echoed those comments. Who he just attacked isn't just Somalis. Who he attacked is Somali Americans. Who he attacked is Americans. And what about leaders in the Somali community? Like, what kind of responses are you hearing from them to all of this? Jelani Hussain, who leads the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and was born in Somalia, came here as a child, said today that the community has reported already seeing an increased presence of immigration and customs enforcement personnel in the Twin Cities.

6:35He also said he's received reports of American citizens being asked about their citizenship. Hussain says this is blatantly discriminatory. Weaponizing ICE to target black Somali immigrants, this is not immigration policy. This is racism being directed from the president's office. Hmm. Well, when it comes to local law enforcement, Matt, did police say how they will respond if there is an uptick in immigration enforcement there? Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O 'Hara says his department does not enforce federal immigration law. but he did say if there are demonstrations that become violent, police are required to respond to protect public safety.

7:15That is Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Seppich. Thank you so much, Matt. You're welcome. This episode was produced by Vincent Acavino and Karen Zamora with audio engineering by Ted Meebane. It was edited by Patrick Jaron Watanon and Courtney Dorney. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan.

7:34It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Elsa Chang. Thank you.