In Minneapolis, a city where the Twin Cities' Somali community has thrived for decades, fear and mistrust have taken hold. As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents flood the area, many Somalis are forced to go into hiding. They're not just immigrants; they're citizens, with some born in America.
The situation is dire. Many Somali residents have stopped leaving their homes, fearing ICE presence. Those who do venture out carry papers – passports, Social Security cards – at all times, for fear of being pulled over and arrested. Business owners, including a co-owner of a popular Somali cafe, report a significant decline in customers.
To counter this, the community has come together to form patrol groups, which have become de facto "ICE lookouts." These patrols are not just about keeping ICE out; they're also about reinvigorating public life. The Karmel Mall, once bustling with Somali shoppers, is now a deserted sight. Local Somalis are organizing to drum up business for their community.
Their efforts are necessary, given the Trump administration's aggressive targeting of Somalis. In December, right-wing media began focusing on a long-running scandal involving day care centers accused of defrauding the government. Many of the claims made by Nick Shirley – an anti-immigrant YouTuber with an anti-Muslim history – have been debunked.
Despite this, Somali leaders have formed SALT (Somali American Leadership Table), a group that aims to protect their community and bring attention to their plight. Imam Yusuf Abdulle, a co-founder of SALT, said the group's goal is to "keep ICE out" and create a sense of security for Somalis.
The situation in Minneapolis is not unique. Other cities across the United States are also seeing an increase in ICE presence. In some areas, Somali residents have even reported being targeted by anti-Muslim rhetoric. One Somali cab driver said, "Before, it was 'Haitian people eating cats and dogs.' It was 'Mexicans are all rapists, all criminals.' Now, it's us... Tomorrow, who's it gonna be?"
The situation is dire, but the community is fighting back. They're taking to the streets, organizing events, and supporting one another. As Abdi Mohamed, a Somali American filmmaker, said, "We need to drum up support for our community." The Intercept is committed to covering this story and giving voice to those who are being silenced.
The fate of Somalis in America hangs in the balance. Will they be able to maintain their rights and freedoms? Or will the Trump administration's policies tear them apart? One thing is certain: the Somali community will not go quietly into the night. They'll keep fighting, even when it seems like all hope is lost.
The Intercept needs your support to continue its work. Join our mission to protect press freedom and defend democracy. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
The situation is dire. Many Somali residents have stopped leaving their homes, fearing ICE presence. Those who do venture out carry papers – passports, Social Security cards – at all times, for fear of being pulled over and arrested. Business owners, including a co-owner of a popular Somali cafe, report a significant decline in customers.
To counter this, the community has come together to form patrol groups, which have become de facto "ICE lookouts." These patrols are not just about keeping ICE out; they're also about reinvigorating public life. The Karmel Mall, once bustling with Somali shoppers, is now a deserted sight. Local Somalis are organizing to drum up business for their community.
Their efforts are necessary, given the Trump administration's aggressive targeting of Somalis. In December, right-wing media began focusing on a long-running scandal involving day care centers accused of defrauding the government. Many of the claims made by Nick Shirley – an anti-immigrant YouTuber with an anti-Muslim history – have been debunked.
Despite this, Somali leaders have formed SALT (Somali American Leadership Table), a group that aims to protect their community and bring attention to their plight. Imam Yusuf Abdulle, a co-founder of SALT, said the group's goal is to "keep ICE out" and create a sense of security for Somalis.
The situation in Minneapolis is not unique. Other cities across the United States are also seeing an increase in ICE presence. In some areas, Somali residents have even reported being targeted by anti-Muslim rhetoric. One Somali cab driver said, "Before, it was 'Haitian people eating cats and dogs.' It was 'Mexicans are all rapists, all criminals.' Now, it's us... Tomorrow, who's it gonna be?"
The situation is dire, but the community is fighting back. They're taking to the streets, organizing events, and supporting one another. As Abdi Mohamed, a Somali American filmmaker, said, "We need to drum up support for our community." The Intercept is committed to covering this story and giving voice to those who are being silenced.
The fate of Somalis in America hangs in the balance. Will they be able to maintain their rights and freedoms? Or will the Trump administration's policies tear them apart? One thing is certain: the Somali community will not go quietly into the night. They'll keep fighting, even when it seems like all hope is lost.
The Intercept needs your support to continue its work. Join our mission to protect press freedom and defend democracy. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
... The Somali community is like, literally fighting for their lives over here. Like, they're not even asking for much - just equal treatment and respect. But nope, ICE shows up and it's like, "Hey, we're gonna mess with your life". And the worst part? They're being demonized by these right-wing media folks who have ZERO facts to back up their claims 
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. We need more of that in our world, not less 
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... i mean, ppl are living in fear of their own gov, can't even leave their homes without worrying about gettin arrested... but at the same time, it's amazing to see the Somali community come together & fight back 
what it says is that when ppl feel marginalized or oppressed, they'll find ways to resist & organize... it's like, the system might be against 'em, but they won't go down without a fight 
and to think that just because some dude's got a grudge against them, they're gonna get targeted... it's like, helloooo basic human decency?! 
. People are so scared they can't even leave their homes, it's like living under constant surveillance 
. I get why there's mistrust but this feels like a whole lot of xenophobia going on 
. The community coming together to form patrol groups might be necessary, but can we also talk about addressing the root issue here? Like, what's the point of having ICE agents in the first place if they're just gonna cause fear and anxiety among innocent people? 
can u believe what's happening to the somali community in minneapolis?! they're being chased out of their own homes because of ice agents 
and i think it's so cool that they're forming patrol groups to protect themselves 
it's like they're saying "hey, we won't be silenced" 
and i'm all about supporting them 
. I mean, these folks are citizens, born and raised here, what's the deal? 
. It's like the Trump admin is trying to erase all those years of progress and community-building 
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, and it's amazing that local business owners are stepping up to support their fellow Somalis 
. And let's be real, SALT (Somali American Leadership Table) is a total game-changer 
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. They're doing some amazing work, and it's so important that we hear from people who are being silenced 
those Somali citizens carrying papers around are just so extra and honestly if they're not going to assimilate then why should I care about their "dire" situation? 
stopICE stopthehatemailstoptheracism 
. And it's not just them, it's their families, friends, and business owners too - everyone's affected by this toxic atmosphere.
. It's not just about their freedom; it's about our collective humanity as well. We can't let hate speech and xenophobia win 
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. It's like they're trying to protect themselves from a perceived threat, but also trying to bring back some normalcy to their community.
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Can't we find a way to be more inclusive and accepting?
. It's crazy that people are getting targeted just because of their heritage - it's so not right 
those day care centers were defrauding gov, what's next? are we gonna start deporting ppl because of unsubstantiated claims?