President Donald Trump intensified his administration’s focus on immigration this week, stating that Somali migrants should return to their homeland, coinciding with reports of an impending large-scale federal enforcement action targeting the substantial Somali population in Minnesota. This rhetoric, delivered during a cabinet meeting on December 3, 2025, occurs amid a broader governmental clampdown on immigration policies spurred by recent national security concerns, including a review of asylum processes and potential new travel restrictions on designated countries. The announcement has drawn immediate, sharp criticism from Minnesota state and local officials, who caution that the sweep risks unfairly targeting U.S. citizens within the community.
Sources indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing an operation to detain potentially hundreds of individuals across the Twin Cities area, home to the largest Somali community in the United States. While Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin stated that enforcement priorities are based strictly on immigration status, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed concerns that such a large operation could violate due process rights for residents.
Minnesota Leaders Denounce Potential Sweep
Minnesota is home to approximately 80,000 residents of Somali descent, the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens. State Senator Zaynab Mohamed warned that any wide-net operation would primarily encounter citizens. Governor Tim Walz characterized the proposed enforcement action as a “publicity stunt” that indiscriminately targets immigrants rather than addressing legitimate crime concerns.
President Trump’s remarks continued a pattern of criticizing Minnesota’s Somali community and its Democratic leadership, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress. Omar quickly responded online, dismissing the President’s focus on her as obsessional politics aimed at distraction.
The administration’s accelerated drive for stricter immigration controls follows a recent high-profile shooting in Washington D.C., allegedly committed by an Afghan national who entered the country in 2021 under a program for individuals who assisted U.S. forces. In response, the White House has signaled a major overhaul of immigration processes, including potential scrutiny of green cards issued to specific nationalities and the threat of halting immigration from countries labeled as “third world.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has proposed developing new travel bans and scrutinizing visa fraud specifically targeting activity in Minnesota. Furthermore, the administration plans to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a smaller segment of Somali residents, a protection designation that has been in place since 1991 due to Somalia’s prolonged internal conflict.
International and Financial Ramifications
Adding a unique layer to the situation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an independent inquiry into unverified claims of state funds being rerouted to al-Shabab, a militant group in Somalia. Al-Shabab has denied these allegations.
Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, adopted a reserved approach to the dispute, advising that the remarks should be dismissed. He noted that similar comments have historically been directed at other African nations, including South Africa and Nigeria, suggesting that escalating the row would be counterproductive and more damaging than ignoring the inflamed political rhetoric.
The focused enforcement action and heightened political rhetoric underscore the administration’s commitment to transforming the nation’s immigration landscape. For communities like the one in Minnesota, the uncertainty surrounding due process rights and legal status remains a critical, immediate concern. Legal advocacy groups are preparing to offer assistance and monitor compliance during any large-scale operation, emphasizing the need for legal representation and verification of citizenship status for all targeted individuals.