Tom Homan, Trump’s tough border enforcer, has slammed CNN’s Dana Bash over controversial ICE raids in Minnesota targeting Somali migrants. Home to America’s largest Somali community, the state has around 80,000 Somali residents, mostly legal citizens or residents. The recent raids have sparked fears of racial profiling and mass panic among the community.
“Nothing to Fear If You’re a Citizen,” Homan Claims
State officials told CNN that Minnesota’s undocumented Somali population is “very, very small.” Bash blasted the raids as “more about scaring people than arresting criminals.” Homan fired back:
“If you’re a US citizen, you have nothing to fear. We’re looking for criminal aliens.”
He insisted the raids follow long-standing enforcement policies, not targeted crackdowns on Somalis.
“We’re just starting. Even we don’t know how many illegal Somalis there are,” Homan admitted, defending efforts to identify and remove illegal immigrants despite limited data.
Trump Brands Minnesota a “Fraud Hub,” Slams Somali Migrants
President Trump didn’t hold back. He slammed Minnesota as a “hub of fraudulent money laundering” under Democrat Governor Tim Walz. At a Cabinet meeting, Trump lashed out at Somali migrants:
“Somali migrants contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country.”
His sweeping remarks lumped legal and illegal immigrants together, angering critics who called it racist. Supporters praised his blunt immigration stance.
Child Trafficking Nightmare: Homan Sounds the Alarm
On Fox & Friends, Homan painted a grim picture of migrant child trafficking. He claimed the Trump administration saved over 62,000 children from forced labour and sex trafficking.
- Under Biden, over 500,000 migrant children were smuggled across the border
- 300,000 remain unaccounted for, many likely victims of trafficking and abuse
“Many are in sex trafficking. Many are forced into labour. Many are being abused,” Homan warned.
He hailed Trump as “the greatest president in my lifetime” for prioritising child protection.
Somali Community in Fear as Political Tensions Rise
Minnesota’s Somali community is gripped by fear. Even legal residents worry about being caught up in raids based on appearance or accent. The claim that undocumented Somalis are “very, very small” has critics accusing authorities of intimidation.
The raids come amid fierce debates over immigration legality. Trump’s broad attacks risk alienating law-abiding Somali-Americans, many of whom fled conflict or sought refuge legally.
With Minnesota a key swing state, the crackdown has heavy political weight. Trump’s team aims to strike at a Democratic stronghold and weaken Governor Walz, known for his immigration support.
Biden Border Failures Spark ICE Crackdown
Homan blasted the Biden administration’s “got-aways” – two million illegal border crossers who slipped past security unchecked. The missing 300,000 migrant children highlight a humanitarian disaster fuelled by trafficking and abuse.
Critics question whether raids on established communities help or just deepen divisions, calling instead for stronger border security.
For now, Minnesota is ground zero in Trump’s hardline immigration push, with the Somali community caught in the crossfire.
