October 12, 2026 — The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) stands in solidarity with Somali Minnesotans and condemns the federal administration’s continued targeting of the Somali community through both rhetoric and enforcement.
Today, federal agents searched the Washington, D.C. home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, the nation’s most prominent Somali American elected official. The search comes just days after President Trump posted hateful rhetoric on social media against the Somali community, which is not the first time the president has done so.
These are not isolated incidents. They are the latest in nearly a year of sustained actions against one community, beginning with Operation Metro Surge in December 2025, which ILCM condemned at the time as racist and Islamophobic. Since then, the pattern has only deepened and escalated, including the detention of multiple Somali men in the military prison at Guantánamo Bay. The Administration’s continued targeting of the Somali community is just one of many atrocious acts of a fascist, authoritarian regime.
“Tying any one racial or ethnic group as a whole to crime and violence is dangerous,” said Julia Decker, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at ILCM. “This rhetoric invites hostility toward our Somali neighbors, friends, and coworkers. It can also follow people like our clients into their immigration cases, where stereotypes, prejudice, and outright racism continue to hinder the realization of a just and equitable immigration system.”
Somali Minnesotans are our neighbors, coworkers, business owners, caregivers, and public servants. Like every immigrant community, they bring value to this state and are owed dignity and equal treatment under the law. ILCM rejects rhetoric and actions that target communities by race, national origin, or faith.
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About the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is dedicated to defending and expanding immigrant and refugee rights across Minnesota and North Dakota. We provide free immigration legal representation to low-income individuals, educate diverse communities, and advocate for compassionate, practical policy for our community members. For 30 years, ILCM has been the region's leading provider of comprehensive immigration legal services to clients of all nationalities.