From Refugees to Political Powerhouses: The Journey to Influence

Somalia’s civil war in the early 1990s triggered a humanitarian crisis that would eventually establish Minnesota as the epicenter of Somali American life. Today, this vibrant community of 80,000 to 100,000 people has rapidly evolved from refugees seeking safety to influential political stakeholders, while also facing scrutiny amid a major federal fraud investigation.

Federal authorities are investigating a network of nonprofits and individuals, including some Somali Minnesotans, accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme that allegedly diverted hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic-era food assistance. Investigators claim the funds were obtained by falsely reporting meals for children who never received them.

The controversy has drawn renewed attention to this influential immigrant community, whose journey in Minnesota began three decades ago amid catastrophic conditions in East Africa.

When Somalia’s government collapsed in 1991, the ensuing civil war created one of the world’s most severe refugee crises. The United Nations documented more than one million Somalis fleeing the country, with another 1.5 million internally displaced. Responding to the humanitarian emergency, the United States began processing Somali refugee visas in 1992.

While several American cities received Somali refugees, Minnesota quickly emerged as a preferred destination. The state’s robust refugee resettlement infrastructure, employment opportunities, and affordable housing attracted initial settlers. As those early arrivals established communities, particularly in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, family reunification and word-of-mouth drove further migration to the region.

Despite frequent mentions in immigration debates, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applies to only a small fraction of Minnesota’s Somali population. Congress created TPS in 1990 as a humanitarian measure allowing people from countries experiencing extraordinary crises to remain temporarily in the United States without providing a path to permanent residency or citizenship.

While Somalia has received TPS designation intermittently since the 1990s due to persistent instability, the Congressional Research Service reports only about 700 Somali TPS holders nationwide. The vast majority of Somali Minnesotans arrived through the U.S. refugee program, which includes comprehensive security vetting and provides a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

What distinguishes Minnesota’s Somali community is the remarkable speed of its political ascendance. Within a single generation, the community transformed from newly arrived refugees to a formidable civic force.

The foundation for this political influence was established in the 1990s through community-building efforts that included mosques, cultural centers, and advocacy organizations. The Minnesota Historical Society notes that Somali newcomers “arrived with social and cultural resources” and quickly developed networks that facilitated access to housing, employment, and education—networks that would later power political mobilization.

The community’s political breakthrough began in 2013 when Abdi Warsame won election to the Minneapolis City Council. Three years later, Ilhan Omar made history as the first Somali American elected to any state legislature in the United States. Her 2018 election to Congress represented the pinnacle of the community’s rapid political rise.

Today, Somali Americans hold positions throughout Minnesota’s political landscape, including seats on the Minneapolis City Council, in the state legislature, in local party leadership structures, and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This political influence has grown despite persistent challenges, including economic disparities, integration difficulties, and occasionally hostile political rhetoric. The ongoing federal fraud investigation has added another layer of complexity to the community’s public image, though community leaders emphasize that the alleged actions of individuals should not tarnish an entire population’s contributions.

As Minnesota’s Somali community navigates these challenges, its journey from war refugees to political stakeholders in just three decades remains a remarkable chapter in America’s immigrant story—one that continues to evolve through both achievements and controversies.