Minnesota now has the largest population of Somalis in the United States — about 80,000 people of Somali descent, roughly 78% living in the Twin Cities, according to Wilder Research. The community has recently been the target of attacks from former President Trump, who in late 2025 called Somali immigrants “garbage,” urged them to “go back to where they came from,” and said he wanted to strip temporary legal protections from Somali migrants living in Minnesota. Federal authorities have also reportedly planned an immigration enforcement operation focused on Minnesota’s Somali population. Conservatives have seized on criminal investigations and news reports of alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social services system — some involving Somalis — to disparage the community more broadly.
The Minnesota Somali community’s roots go back to refugees fleeing Somalia’s civil war in the 1990s. Some of the earliest Somali arrivals to the U.S. settled not in the Twin Cities but in Marshall, a town about 150 miles west of Minneapolis, where they found work at a meat-packing plant. Word of job opportunities spread, and more Somali refugees arrived in the region, taking jobs in meatpacking, hospitality, taxi driving and other fields. Those who were hired brought family members, and communities grew in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Minnesota’s reputation for martisoor — hospitality in Somali — and what refugees perceived as a broadly liberal, welcoming social environment also attracted Somali newcomers. Over time the Twin Cities became a central hub where Somalis could find work, social networks, and cultural connection.
The transition has not been without friction. Some religious Somalis have faced challenges practicing Islamic customs such as praying multiple times a day and wearing the hijab. The community has also struggled with stigma stemming from the past decade’s concerns about radicalization; Somali recruits were targeted by ISIS recruiters years ago, and that history has affected perceptions. Despite these difficulties, Somali Minnesotans have continued to grow in number and contribute to their communities and the state, in work and civic life.
Rep. Ilhan Omar — who fled Somalia as a child and came to the U.S. as a refugee — became the first Somali American elected to Congress in 2018. She has been a frequent target of attacks from Trump, who has said she “shouldn’t be allowed to be a congresswoman” and suggested she be expelled from the country. Omar responded to recent attacks by criticizing Trump’s fixation and urging he seek help.
Local leaders in the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, have voiced support for the Somali community amid federal pressure. Somali Minnesotans and advocates say they are confronting these challenges with the backing of city officials and continuing to serve and participate in public life across the state.
