Refugees Rise as Political Powerhouses in New Era

Minnesota’s Somali Community: From Civil War Refugees to Political Force

Minnesota’s Somali community, the largest in the United States, has transformed from a collection of war refugees to a significant cultural and political force over three decades. Recently, however, the community has found itself under scrutiny following a federal investigation into an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving pandemic-era food aid programs.

The roots of Minnesota’s Somali community trace back to the early 1990s, when Somalia descended into a devastating civil war. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, more than one million Somalis fled as refugees or asylees, while another 1.5 million were internally displaced as violence intensified. The United States began issuing refugee visas to Somalis in 1992, setting the stage for what would become a significant migration to Minnesota.

Today, population estimates place the number of Somali Minnesotans between 80,000 and 100,000, concentrated primarily in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, sometimes called “Little Mogadishu,” has become a cultural hub for the community.

In public discourse, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is often mentioned in connection with Somali immigration, but this reveals a common misunderstanding about the community’s legal status. Congress established TPS in 1990 as a humanitarian measure allowing people from countries facing extraordinary circumstances to remain temporarily in the United States. Somalia has received TPS designation intermittently since the 1990s due to ongoing instability.

However, TPS holders represent only a tiny fraction of Minnesota’s Somali population. The Congressional Research Service estimates there are merely 700 Somali TPS holders in the entire United States. By contrast, most Somali Minnesotans arrived through the refugee resettlement program, which provides a permanent legal pathway including thorough vetting, resettlement support, and eventual eligibility for permanent residency and citizenship.

Minnesota became an attractive destination for several reasons. The state’s robust social services, established refugee resettlement infrastructure, and a welcoming attitude from volunteer organizations played crucial roles. Additionally, early Somali settlers created a network effect, with established community members helping newcomers navigate housing, employment, and education challenges.

Perhaps most remarkable has been the community’s rapid rise to political significance. What began with building mosques, cultural centers, and advocacy organizations in the 1990s has evolved into substantial political representation in just one generation.

The political breakthroughs came in quick succession. In 2013, Abdi Warsame made history as the first Somali American elected to the Minneapolis City Council. Three years later, Ilhan Omar achieved a national first when she was elected to the Minnesota state legislature. By 2018, Omar had ascended to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Somali American in Congress.

This political evolution reflects both the community’s growing numbers and its effective organization. The Minnesota Historical Society notes that Somali newcomers “arrived with social and cultural resources” and built extensive networks that facilitated access to essential services—networks that later powered political mobilization.

Today, Somali Americans hold positions across multiple levels of government, from local party leadership to the Minneapolis City Council, the Minnesota House, and federal office.

The community’s integration hasn’t been without challenges. Cultural differences, language barriers, and at times, suspicion and discrimination have created obstacles. More recently, federal investigators have alleged that a network of nonprofits and individuals, including some Somali Minnesotans, defrauded government food aid programs of hundreds of millions of dollars during the pandemic by claiming to feed children who did not exist.

Nevertheless, the story of Minnesota’s Somali community demonstrates how refugees can transform from newcomers to engaged citizens in a remarkably short time span, creating economic, cultural and political impacts that extend well beyond their own neighborhoods.