For Somali residents of Minneapolis, the Trump administration's assault on immigration is an existential threat. Many are citizens or permanent residents who have faced decades of persecution and violence in their home country. But now, under a president with "utter contempt for truth," they're being targeted by ICE agents and federal law enforcement.
Kamal Yusuf, a Somali immigrant, has taken to patrolling his neighborhood on foot, wearing a neon orange vest and black beanie that reads "FUCK ICE." He's not alone. Hundreds of volunteers have joined the West Bank patrol group created last month after Trump's surge of force began. These community-led patrols aim to deter ICE presence and protect Somali residents from arrest.
The Somali community in Minneapolis has long been known for its resilience, forged during decades of civil war and persecution. But now, they're facing a new kind of threat – one that targets not just immigrants but also their very sense of belonging.
"We realized we can't fight the federal government," said Abdi Rahman, a 28-year-old founding member of the West Bank neighborhood patrol. "But we can come together and patrol the neighborhood, keep ICE out."
The Somali community has banded together to drum up economic support for their businesses and drum up solidarity with non-Somali residents who are also being targeted by Trump's policies.
But even Somali citizens are living in fear of being detained or deported. Saadia Saman, a 10th-grader whose mother was stopped by ICE agents at her school, told The Intercept that she would travel with her passport and Social Security card "in case of an emergency." Her mother described the traumatic experience: "We are not garbage. We are good people. We're Somali."
The Trump administration's rhetoric has been particularly venomous, targeting Somali immigrants as "garbage" who are taking up government welfare money. But this is a lie – nearly 58 percent of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the US, and 87 percent of foreign-born Somalis are naturalized U.S. citizens.
As Trump's policies continue to target immigrant communities, it's clear that the Somali community in Minneapolis will not be silenced or intimidated. They will keep fighting back, using every tool at their disposal – from patrols to protests to economic boycotts – to resist the Trump administration's assault on democracy and human rights.
Kamal Yusuf, a Somali immigrant, has taken to patrolling his neighborhood on foot, wearing a neon orange vest and black beanie that reads "FUCK ICE." He's not alone. Hundreds of volunteers have joined the West Bank patrol group created last month after Trump's surge of force began. These community-led patrols aim to deter ICE presence and protect Somali residents from arrest.
The Somali community in Minneapolis has long been known for its resilience, forged during decades of civil war and persecution. But now, they're facing a new kind of threat – one that targets not just immigrants but also their very sense of belonging.
"We realized we can't fight the federal government," said Abdi Rahman, a 28-year-old founding member of the West Bank neighborhood patrol. "But we can come together and patrol the neighborhood, keep ICE out."
The Somali community has banded together to drum up economic support for their businesses and drum up solidarity with non-Somali residents who are also being targeted by Trump's policies.
But even Somali citizens are living in fear of being detained or deported. Saadia Saman, a 10th-grader whose mother was stopped by ICE agents at her school, told The Intercept that she would travel with her passport and Social Security card "in case of an emergency." Her mother described the traumatic experience: "We are not garbage. We are good people. We're Somali."
The Trump administration's rhetoric has been particularly venomous, targeting Somali immigrants as "garbage" who are taking up government welfare money. But this is a lie – nearly 58 percent of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the US, and 87 percent of foreign-born Somalis are naturalized U.S. citizens.
As Trump's policies continue to target immigrant communities, it's clear that the Somali community in Minneapolis will not be silenced or intimidated. They will keep fighting back, using every tool at their disposal – from patrols to protests to economic boycotts – to resist the Trump administration's assault on democracy and human rights.
they're being targeted by ice agents and federal law enforcement just because of their ethnicity, it's not right at all 
these community-led patrols are a great idea tho! who needs politicians to protect us when we can do it ourselves? 
i'm so proud of the somali community in minneapolis for standing up for themselves and fighting back against trump's policies 
let's keep showing love and support to our immigrant friends 
i mean i know hes not a fan but come on, these ppl have been living in the US for like decades and theyre still being treated like theyre some kinda alien threat 
I'm so worried about these young folks, they're already dealing with trauma from growing up in a war-torn country, and now they're facing this new threat of being targeted by ICE agents? 
We need to stand up for our neighbors who are being targeted by policies that seem designed to tear us apart. 
. I mean, they've been through civil war and persecution in Somalia, so you'd think they'd get some respect here in America. But nope, Trump's policies are like a double whammy - they're being targeted by ICE agents AND the rhetoric is super racist 
** I'm following this story closely - it's mind-blowing that Somali residents in Minneapolis are taking matters into their own hands by patrolling their neighborhood to deter ICE presence. 
**
They deserve so much better than to be treated like "garbage" just because of where they're from... the US government needs to get its act together and support people, not tear them apart 
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. And the worst part is, these Somali kids are being raised to be scared of their own countrymen 
. We gotta stand up for these people and make them know we got their backs 
The govts policies r meant 2 target immigrants & make them feel unwelcome, thats just not right 
Those neighborhood patrols are a great example of how ordinary people can make a difference. And it's amazing that Saadia Saman is taking charge and preparing for any emergency – that takes so much courage. 
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. It's like, why are they still being targeted? It just doesn't add up.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to wear a neon orange vest with "FUCK ICE" on it and just walk around their neighborhood? It's like they're saying, "Hey, we've been through worse than this and we're not gonna let some dude in the White House push us around." 
ICE agents showing up in neighborhoods and making people live in fear is not right at all...i mean whats next? ppl from other communities gonna start getting targeted too? we gotta stand with our Somali friends and support them in any way we can 
. gotta keep fighting back tho, patrols & protests r one thing but also economic support 4 their businesses is key 
