Minneapolis Mayor Expresses Interest in Somalia Visit
Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, recently shared his desire to visit Somalia with a group of Somalis. This moment was captured in a video that surfaced on social media on Thursday night.
The context for Frey’s interest comes amid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focusing on illegal immigrants from Somalia in the Minneapolis area. This follows the uncovering of more than $1 billion in fraudulent activities, some of which may have funded the militant group al-Shabab. In the recording posted on X, Frey mentioned that he’s attempting to learn the Somali language.
“I’m a little busy right now, but I’d really like to visit Somalia next year in a few months,” Frey expressed. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. But, you know, to be there with my friends, to be there together. Walla, walla yala? Walla yala. Walla yal. Walla yal, me, my brothers and sisters. I’m learning.”
On a related note, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara issued an apology during a press conference on November 20 after referring to crimes committed by “a group of East African kids” at an earlier event. This came shortly after Democratic City Councilman Jamal Osman was carjacked on November 10, following his re-election on a platform focused on restorative justice and violence prevention.
There are also accusations against Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz regarding retaliation against a whistleblower who brought attention to a fraud scheme, while the Justice Department is currently prosecuting several related cases. In a recent interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Walz acknowledged that the state “attracts criminals,” but urged against stigmatizing Somalis.
In light of the ongoing issues, President Donald Trump declared that he would be revoking the “temporary protected status” of Somalis in Minneapolis, stating that the influx of refugees has had detrimental effects on the country. When pressed on whether Somali scammers would face accountability, Walz countered by suggesting that most crimes are committed by white men.
