Quick reads
- President Donald Trump on Dec. 2, 2025, used sharply critical language about Somali immigrants and said he did not want them in the United States.
- His remarks came as federal authorities ramped up immigration enforcement in the Minneapolis-St.– Paul area, home to the largest Somali diaspora in the U.S.
- The comments were linked by administration officials to recent fraud cases tied to the “Feeding Our Future” scheme that involved many defendants from Minnesota.
- Minneapolis and St. Paul officials condemned the rhetoric and warned of potential civil-rights harms from targeted enforcement.
- The White House and federal agencies have said investigations and enforcement are ongoing; some local leaders urged due process and protections for citizens.
Where it happened
The remarks were made during a White House meeting and public comments in Washington, D.C., on December 2. The immediate enforcement actions discussed by administration officials are centred on the Minneapolis–St. Paul region in Minnesota.
How it happened
According to live reporting and official statements, Mr Trump attacked Somali immigrants while discussing a fraud scandal in Minnesota and linked the community to the misuse of public funds. Around the same time, federal immigration teams were reported to be deployed to the Twin Cities to pursue undocumented people with final removal orders. City leaders say they were not consulted and have publicly pushed back.
The story
On Dec. 2, President Trump used harsh language toward Somali immigrants, saying he did not want them in the United States, remarks documented by major outlets like The Washington Post and The Guardian. His comments came as reports surfaced of stepped-up immigration enforcement in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, home to a large Somali community.
- The administration linked the enforcement push to the long-running “Feeding Our Future” fraud investigation, which federal officials say involved multiple defendants and major losses from pandemic-era food programs. Court records and local reporting confirm several convictions connected to the case.
- Leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul condemned Trump’s remarks and warned that aggressive enforcement could lead to civil rights violations or wrongful detentions of citizens and lawful residents. They called for transparency and calm as the situation develops.
