In Minneapolis, a community in fear is taking matters into its own hands. Somali residents, many of whom are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have formed watch patrols to protect themselves from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Kamal Yusuf, a 30-year-old Somali-American, has been patrolling the streets of Minneapolis's Cedar Riverside neighborhood since January 1st. Wearing a neon orange vest and black beanie that reads "FUCK ICE," he searches for signs of federal immigration agents. The 30-year-old says he needs to do this for his community.
Somalis in Minnesota are predominantly U.S.-born, with nearly 58 percent of residents born in the country. However, many foreign-born Somalis have also become naturalized citizens. Abdi Rahman, a founder of an ICE patrol group, notes that while they can't challenge federal authorities directly, they can safeguard their neighborhoods.
Since December, Somali leaders have formed SALT (Somali American Leadership Table), an organization dedicated to protecting its members and promoting community resilience. The table's co-founder, Imam Yusuf Abdulle, observes that the Trump administration's rhetoric has revived memories of Somalia's civil war. Despite the challenges they face, Rahman says his community is fighting back.
To make ends meet, Somali business owners have closed their shops and restaurants. Duniya Omar, a cafe owner, notes that her business has dropped to 100% as a result. The Somali community is trying to drum up support for local businesses by organizing events.
With the U.S. government's deportation policies set to target thousands of Somalis, many residents are walking around with their passports and Social Security cards at all times, fearing ICE encounters. A cab driver, who wished anonymity due to fear of retaliation, recalls being approached by an elderly white man asking about his country of origin.
The Intercept has observed a significant increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly among far-right groups. In response, the magazine is seeking donations to support its expansion and continued coverage of critical issues like Trump's assault on democracy.
Kamal Yusuf, a 30-year-old Somali-American, has been patrolling the streets of Minneapolis's Cedar Riverside neighborhood since January 1st. Wearing a neon orange vest and black beanie that reads "FUCK ICE," he searches for signs of federal immigration agents. The 30-year-old says he needs to do this for his community.
Somalis in Minnesota are predominantly U.S.-born, with nearly 58 percent of residents born in the country. However, many foreign-born Somalis have also become naturalized citizens. Abdi Rahman, a founder of an ICE patrol group, notes that while they can't challenge federal authorities directly, they can safeguard their neighborhoods.
Since December, Somali leaders have formed SALT (Somali American Leadership Table), an organization dedicated to protecting its members and promoting community resilience. The table's co-founder, Imam Yusuf Abdulle, observes that the Trump administration's rhetoric has revived memories of Somalia's civil war. Despite the challenges they face, Rahman says his community is fighting back.
To make ends meet, Somali business owners have closed their shops and restaurants. Duniya Omar, a cafe owner, notes that her business has dropped to 100% as a result. The Somali community is trying to drum up support for local businesses by organizing events.
With the U.S. government's deportation policies set to target thousands of Somalis, many residents are walking around with their passports and Social Security cards at all times, fearing ICE encounters. A cab driver, who wished anonymity due to fear of retaliation, recalls being approached by an elderly white man asking about his country of origin.
The Intercept has observed a significant increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly among far-right groups. In response, the magazine is seeking donations to support its expansion and continued coverage of critical issues like Trump's assault on democracy.
I feel for them though, living in fear all the time can be super stressful. It's wild that they have to carry their passports and Social Security cards everywhere they go. How would you feel if someone asked you where your parents were from? 
At least they're trying to support local businesses by hosting events, it's not gonna be easy though. The Intercept is doing some awesome work exposing anti-immigrant groups, we need more journalists like that! 
I mean, isn't that kinda vigilantism? But at the same time, I get why they're scared and want to protect their community. I don't think we should be able to just ignore the fact that there are ICE agents lurking around every corner 
. And honestly, it's messed up how some business owners have had to close up shop because of the tension... that's like, super devastating for people who already struggle to make ends meet 
. But at the same time, I'm all for community organizing and drumming up support for local businesses - that's actually kinda cool 
. And can we talk about how messed up it is that some people are even asking around about someone's country of origin? Like, whoa... 
I'm not surprised really, but it's a scary thought that our communities can take matters into their own hands due to the lack of action from the government. It's like they're living in a war zone, always looking over their shoulders, wondering when ICE will show up. Meanwhile, these Somali business owners are struggling to make ends meet because of Trump's deportation policies 
. The fact that people are having to carry their passports and Social Security cards with them all the time is just unbelievable. We need real change, not just a bunch of band-aid solutions.
. These Somali residents are taking matters into their own hands, wearing neon vests and patrolling the streets for signs of ICE agents - it's like they're saying, "We will not be silenced, we will not be ignored" 
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. We need to amplify these stories and keep pushing back against the forces of division and fear - it's time to stand together, as one community, and demand better 
these watch patrols are actually kinda clever, gotta protect themselves from the system that's supposed to be there for them. but at the same time, it's crazy that they have to take matters into their own hands like this 
and what's with all these far-right groups spewing hate speech? shouldn't we just focus on unity & understanding instead of demonizing people based on their background or nationality? anyway, gotta give props to duniya omar for standing up for her business and the community... that takes courage 
. The fact that they're taking matters into their own hands with watch patrols shows just how desperate and scared people are getting.
. I mean, there are tons of organizations that work on immigration issues, why not support those instead of taking matters into your own hands? 
It's just creating more tension and fear. And what's with the ICE patrols in the first place? Can't we have a functioning immigration system without resorting to community watch groups? It's like, hello, we're trying to be a country that values diversity and inclusion here... but no, instead we're resorting to these kinds of measures because politicians can't get their act together. 
. Somali residents in Minneapolis are patrolling their neighborhoods to protect themselves from what they see as harassment 
. We need more community-led initiatives like this 
. It's all about promoting resilience and safety in neighborhoods where people feel vulnerable 
.
... can't let his emotions get the best of him 
#StaySafe #ICEpatrols
. It's not just about the food, it's about keeping our community alive. But at the same time, I think we need to be calling out the hate groups and encouraging more positive action. We can't let fear take over.
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. The US government's deportation policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric from far-right groups are creating a toxic environment for immigrants 
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Just heard about this Somali community taking matters into their own hands in Minneapolis... I gotta say, it's pretty inspiring! 
These people are not letting fear take over, they're organizing themselves and supporting each other. It's amazing to see the resilience of a community in the face of uncertainty. I'm all for community-led initiatives like this SALT organization - they might be able to make a real difference. 
You know I was just browsing old threads from 2016 about immigration policies in the US and how it affected Somali communities back then... it's crazy to see how things have escalated now. These community watch patrols are a desperate measure, but I guess it's a sign of how scared people are.
. And the fact that some of these business owners are closing up shop because they're too scared to even go out in public is devastating 
. Can't we all just get along and treat each other with some respect and humanity? 
. They're literally taking matters into their own hands because they feel like the US government doesn't have their backs 