“Over the past two weeks, we have seen an increase in hateful rhetoric and aggressive actions targeting immigrants, especially and specifically Somalis,” said Imam Yusuf Abdullah during a rally on Dec. 3 at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, demanding an end to deportation flights. The rally was organized by union workers and faith leaders.
About 100 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have descended on Minneapolis for Operation Metro Surge, a new phase of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on immigrants, this time targeting the city’s Somali population. The government reported on Thursday that they’ve picked up 12 “criminal illegal aliens” so far, six from Mexico, five from Somalia and one from El Salvador.
During a cabinet meeting on Dec. 2, President Donald Trump conflated the entire Somali community in the state with recent financial fraud scandals that have received national attention.
“We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking garbage into our country,” Trump said. “Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage… When they come from hell, and they complain and do nothing but bitch, we don’t want them in our country.”
In a press release from the White House on Dec. 1, the administration announced that it would be reversing Temporary Protected Status for Somali immigrant refugees as well as indefinitely pausing all “migration from third-world countries,” including asylum decisions.
City leaders condemned the federal government’s plans in a Dec. 2 news conference live streamed on YouTube. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey opened the conference, showing his support for the largest Somali community in the country.
“Targeting Somali people means that due process will be violated,” Frey said. “Mistakes will be made. And let’s be clear, it means that American citizens will be detained for no other reason than the fact that they look like they are Somali. That is not now and will never be a legitimate reason.”
“Immigrants are part of every street, every school, every union, every workplace. You hold up our airports, clear our buildings, drive our buses, care for our elders, build our homes and serve our communities. You deserve dignity, respect and due process,” said Imam Yusuf Abdullah.
SEIU 26 President Greg Nammacher said, “This is the beginning. We know that, especially with this focus in the last couple of days on our Somali brothers and sisters, that these attacks will only increase.”
“This is the beginning of a long struggle that we are going to be doing. It may be snowy outside. It may get even worse. But we are going to have to be here and continue to show up until we stop this deportation machine.” Full story and more in links below.
