Minnesota now hosts the largest Somali population in the United States — about 80,000 people of Somali descent, with roughly 78% living in the Twin Cities, according to Wilder Research. In recent years the community has come under intense political and law-enforcement scrutiny. In late 2025, former President Donald Trump described Somali immigrants as “garbage,” urged them to “go back to where they came from,” and said he wanted to remove temporary legal protections for Somali migrants in Minnesota. Federal authorities have also reportedly planned an immigration enforcement operation targeting the state’s Somali population. At the same time, conservatives have highlighted criminal investigations and media reports of alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social services — incidents that in some cases involved Somali individuals — to cast aspersions on the broader community.
The Somali presence in Minnesota traces back to refugees who fled Somalia’s civil war in the 1990s. Some of the earliest arrivals to the United States settled not in Minneapolis–St. Paul but in Marshall, a town about 150 miles west of the Twin Cities, where meatpacking jobs were available. Word of employment spread quickly; more Somali refugees followed, taking work in meatpacking, hospitality, taxi driving and other sectors. Those who secured jobs sponsored family members, and over time neighborhoods and support networks developed throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Many newcomers were drawn by what Somalis call martisoor — hospitality — and by Minnesota’s reputation for relatively liberal, welcoming social services and institutions. The Twin Cities became a focal point where people could find work, community organizations, mosques, businesses and cultural ties that eased resettlement.
That growth has not been without tension. Some practicing Muslims have encountered obstacles to observing daily prayers, wearing the hijab, and otherwise maintaining religious customs in public life. The community has also faced stigma tied to fears about radicalization: years ago, ISIS recruiters targeted some young Somali men, and that history has complicated public perceptions and fueled security concerns.
Despite these challenges, Somali Minnesotans have continued to expand their civic and economic presence. They work across multiple industries, launch businesses, and participate in local institutions. Representative Ilhan Omar — who came to the United States as a child refugee from Somalia and was first elected to Congress in 2018 — symbolizes that integration and political emergence. Omar has been a frequent target of criticism from Trump, who has said she “shouldn’t be allowed to be a congresswoman” and even suggested she be expelled; Omar has pushed back, calling out his fixation and urging he get help.
Local officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul, including Mayor Jacob Frey and Mayor Melvin Carter, have publicly supported Somali residents as federal pressure and political attacks mounted. Somali community leaders and advocates say they are confronting legal, political and social challenges with the backing of city governments, continuing to provide services, build institutions and take part in public life across the state.
Minnesota’s Somali community today reflects both the difficulties and the resilience of refugee resettlement: rapid growth rooted in economic opportunity and family ties, cultural adaptation and civic engagement, alongside ongoing debates over immigration, security and belonging.