SOMALI COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA REPORTS ICE TARGETING MEMBERS. (PHOTO).

 Somali community in Minnesota reports ICE targeting members

Members of Minnesota’s Somali community say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun enforcement operations in the state, targeting homes, places of worship, and locations where English classes are held.

Minneapolis Councilman Jamal Osman, of Somali descent, said people with social security numbers, work permits, or pending asylum applications have been affected, along with U.S. citizens. Many residents are reportedly afraid to leave their homes and have been advised to carry passports at all times. Osman described the situation as dangerous, saying people feel they are being treated as less than human.

ICE confirmed that 12 people were arrested during the Minnesota operation, including five Somalis, six Mexican nationals, and one person from El Salvador. Immigration attorney Amiin Harun said most Somalis in the state are citizens, permanent residents, or documented asylum seekers. He recounted a case in which ICE agents occupied a client’s home for hours before verifying her legal status, causing significant distress.

The enforcement comes after President Donald Trump criticized Minnesota’s Somali population in a Cabinet meeting, claiming they contribute little and expressing a desire to reduce their presence in the U.S. Trump also indicated plans to end Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota, a program protecting around 705 Somalis nationwide from deportation.

Concerns about fraud in the Somali community have also surfaced. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer launched an investigation into alleged fraud involving Minnesota Somalis, with some reports estimating $300 million in stolen funds. Officials stress that these cases involve a small number of individuals, not the entire community. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison emphasized that accountability for fraud can be pursued without targeting or generalizing against the Somali population.

Minnesota hosts the largest Somali community in the U.S., with roughly 87,000 residents, many of whom arrived in the 1990s, fleeing civil war. Community leaders and local officials highlight the contributions of Somalis as essential workers, caregivers, and members of the state’s social and economic fabric.