Donald Trump has described Somali immigrants as “garbage” and called for them to be sent back home, in a xenophobic outburst during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The US president’s comments came as reports emerged of a planned crackdown on undocumented Somalis in Minnesota, home to the country’s largest Somali community.
During the meeting, Trump singled out Ilhan Omar, the Somali-born US congresswoman, calling her “garbage” and saying Somalia “stinks”. He claimed Somali immigrants “contribute nothing” and are “people who do nothing but complain”. The rant follows reports that the administration is deploying around 100 ICE agents to the Minneapolis-St Paul area to target Somalis with final deportation orders.
The New York Times reported that “strike teams” would focus on the metro area, where most of Minnesota’s estimated 80,000 Somali residents live, the majority of whom are US citizens or legal residents. The Trump administration has previously threatened to revoke temporary protected status for Somalis, citing alleged fraud in state reimbursement programmes.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced an investigation into whether taxpayer funds from Minnesota had been diverted to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, citing a report from a right-wing outlet. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey held a press conference on Tuesday to condemn the planned enforcement, stating: “Targeting Somali people means that due process will be violated… American citizens will be detained for no other reason than they look Somali.”
