Ilhan Omar Declares Somalis Represent America
On November 24, 2025, Representative Ilhan Omar delivered a forceful speech defending Minnesota’s Somali community against President Trump’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali immigrants. “Somalis have always seen themselves as a fabric of this nation,” Omar declared, highlighting the community’s contributions as soldiers, educators, nurses, doctors, and engineers, all motivated by gratitude and commitment to their new home.
Omar challenged the president’s authority to terminate TPS unilaterally, stating at the rally, “Even little kids in 8th grade know that that is not an authority that the president has and can wield.” She emphasized that the Homeland Security Secretary—not the president—controls TPS designations and noted that any attempt to end TPS for a single state would conflict with national law.
Following the announcement, Omar took to social media platform X to respond directly. “I am a citizen and so are the majority of Somalis in America. Good luck celebrating a policy change that really doesn’t have much impact on the Somalis you love to hate. We are here to stay,” she wrote. She also rejected claims linking Somali communities to fraud and gang activity, warning that such rhetoric “puts the lives of Somali not only in Minnesota but across the country in danger.”
On November 25, Omar continued her outreach to Somali communities on X, posting, “To our Somali communities here in Minnesota and across the country: we see you and we stand with you. None of Trump’s lawless threats will ever change that you make our state and country great.” She condemned what she described as a broader pattern of demonization by the president, comparing it to his past claims about immigrants “eating cats and dogs,” and calling such statements “shameful” for their impact on America’s international reputation.
Omar concluded her remarks with a defiant message: “We are not going to allow anybody to make us feel less Somali or less American. We are not going to allow anybody to push us into the shadows. We’re not going to allow anybody to erase our presence and our contribution.”
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