US President Donald Trump has said he does not want Somali immigrants in the country, telling reporters they should “go back to where they came from” and making disparaging remarks about Somalia during a televised cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Comments come amid planned ICE operation in Minnesota
Trump’s remarks coincided with reports that immigration authorities are planning an enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the US. State officials have criticised the plan, warning it could wrongly affect American citizens who appear to be Somali.
Trump attacks Ilhan Omar as backlash grows
The president also criticised Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, calling her incompetent, comments she dismissed as “creepy.” The statements mark an escalation in Trump’s rhetoric toward the Somali community and Democratic leaders, as his administration intensifies its broader immigration crackdown.
