BREAKING: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota leaders have united in a fierce response to President Donald Trump‘s alarming threat to revoke deportation protections for Somali Minnesotans. The urgent rally took place in the Capitol rotunda on November 24, 2023, following Trump’s Friday evening post on Truth Social claiming he would terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis “effective immediately.”
Trump’s incendiary remarks suggested that Minnesota is “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity,” alleging Somali gangs are terrorizing the state. He asserted, “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!” This comes as a 2025 congressional report indicates that approximately 705 Somalis in the U.S. hold TPS set to expire on March 17, 2026, with Omar estimating around 300 are residents of Minnesota.
Omar vehemently challenged Trump’s claims, stating, “It is unfortunate that we are led by a president who does not understand the laws of this land.” She emphasized that Trump lacks the authority to unilaterally revoke TPS, condemning his language as “dangerous” and harmful to the Somali community.
“In this country, we do not blame the lawlessness of an individual on a whole community,” Omar declared. “If a person commits a crime, they face justice, and that you don’t put that crime on a whole community.”
The president’s threat follows a controversial report from the conservative Manhattan Institute, alleging that funds from Minnesota’s state programs have been funneled to Al-Shabaab, a militant group based in Somalia. This report has not been substantiated with concrete evidence, which Omar highlighted in her defense of the Somali community.
“There is no evidence that taxpayer money in Minnesota has gone to aid and abet terrorism,” Omar stated, expressing concern over the potential for violence against Somali residents as a result of Trump’s rhetoric.
At the rally, Senator Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis added that Trump’s threats are not about safety but rather about “purging” communities like hers. “Painting an entire community with a broad brush has created an untrue narrative,” she said, pointing to her own family’s refugee background.
Contrary to this sentiment, some Republican leaders voiced their support for Trump’s claims. Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth expressed relief that Trump recognizes the “seriousness of the fraud problem” in Minnesota, while Senators Jordan Rasmusson and Paul Utke have called for investigations into the alleged financial misconduct involving Al-Shabaab.
Alec Shaw, a civil rights attorney for the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), noted that Trump’s announcement has no legal standing, stating, “TPS for Somalis in Minnesota or anywhere else in the country has not been canceled.” He warned that legal challenges would likely arise if the Department of Homeland Security attempts to terminate TPS.
Furthermore, Attorney General Keith Ellison affirmed that his office is exploring all legal options to defend TPS holders. “Multiple efforts to cancel TPS holders in the first Trump term were successfully litigated,” he said, indicating ongoing vigilance against similar threats.
Community leaders voiced fears of violence stemming from the hostile rhetoric. Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of the Islamic Association of North America, recalled incidents of violence following Trump’s previous comments. “We’ve had enough of politically motivated violence, and we’re not going to stand for it here in Minnesota, not anymore,” stated Majority Leader Erin Murphy.
This urgent situation highlights the ongoing struggles faced by immigrant communities in America and the potential ramifications of political rhetoric. As developments unfold, Minnesota leaders remain resolute in their commitment to protect their constituents against unwarranted threats.
