Minnesota Somalis Condemn Trump After Federal Raid on Ilhan Omar’s DC Home

Members of Minnesota’s Somali community expressed strong anger toward President Donald Trump following a federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on October 12. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a search warrant as part of an investigation into alleged immigration fraud linked to Omar’s citizenship application.

Community Leaders Speak Out Against Raid

Jamal Osman, the Somali-born vice president of the Minneapolis City Council, called the raid an attack on the entire Somali community. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Osman said, “Somalis — we all feel attacked by President Trump.” He criticized the president for his repeated legal violations and ICE’s aggressive tactics in Somali neighborhoods. Osman added, “Our president has broken the law many times. ICE [is] terrorizing our community … and we’re not surprised such action has taken place.”

Osman also condemned the president’s rhetoric, stating, “We have seen the threats, the horrific language he uses against my community. It’s unacceptable, and we’re hoping this could stop.” He urged President Trump to cease these actions, reminding him that Somali Americans are citizens like everyone else and deserve due process under the law.

Personal Accounts Reflect Deep Frustration

A 37-year-old social worker named Abdi, who declined to give his last name, voiced even harsher criticism. Like Osman, he was born in Somalia. Abdi accused President Trump of using the raid to “dehumanize and also humiliate” Rep. Omar, claiming the president “hates Somali people because of Ilhan Omar.”

Abdi described a climate of fear among Somalis, asserting that Trump’s policies have created “hate” and a “fight” that leads to street harassment and surveillance of Somali Americans. “It’s personal,” he said, adding that Trump treats Omar not as a congresswoman but as “someone who’s below him.” He questioned the legality of the investigation, saying, “If they take the citizenship away from her, then I will say, ‘Are we in a dictatorship?’”

A 22-year-old Somali American woman, who also preferred anonymity, said she was not surprised by the raid. She noted the administration’s persistent questioning of Omar’s immigration status and naturalization, saying, “It was bound to happen for them to investigate her soon enough.”

Details of the Federal Investigation

HSI, the investigative branch of the Department of Homeland Security, carried out the search warrant early Monday morning. Sources told Fox News Digital that the investigation focuses on whether Omar or her late father, Nur Mohamed, committed citizenship fraud decades ago. This probe could potentially lead to the congresswoman’s denaturalization.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Omar’s phone, passport, and computers were seized during the raid, though it remains unclear if other items were taken. Omar has not been publicly seen since the raid but responded on social media, condemning the investigation as “an outrageous abuse of power” and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement.

President Trump’s Response

The White House directed Fox News Digital to President Trump’s remarks made following the raid. Trump called Omar “totally crooked” and “a terrible person,” dismissing the matter as one for the Department of Justice. He criticized Omar’s complaints about the U.S. Constitution, referring to her as coming from “a country that is a non-country.”

Despite his harsh language, Trump claimed he had “nothing to do with” the investigation itself, placing responsibility on federal legal authorities.

The raid and the ensuing backlash highlight the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Somali community, centered around immigration enforcement and political targeting.

The situation remains fluid as the investigation continues and the Somali community in Minnesota watches closely, advocating for their rights and due process.