A recent analysis of federal data by the Minnesota Star Tribune has revealed a significant increase in deportation orders for Somalis living in Minnesota. More than 500 Somali immigrants from the state have been issued removal orders this year, marking a nearly tenfold increase from 2025. This surge is part of the Trump administration's efforts to speed up asylum hearings and narrow paths to legal protection.
The increase in deportation orders is attributed to the Trump administration's decision to cut off temporary legal protection for Somalis living in the US and fast-track hundreds of cases to immigration judges. Immigration attorney Marc Prokosch has characterized the process as a "political scare tactic," citing the use of detention centers as far away as Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. At least two Somalis from Minnesota have been sent to the notorious military detention camp.
According to Prokosch, the Trump administration's tactics are having a profound impact on Somali asylum seekers. He represented four men who were told they were being deported to Somalia but spent nearly a month at Guantánamo Bay before being flown to Africa. Prokosch questioned the use of taxpayer dollars for this process, stating that it is being used to "terrorize and scare people."
The US Department of Homeland Security has defended the Trump administration's actions, stating that they are protecting American citizens from criminals. However, few Somali asylum seekers have felony convictions. A spokesperson for the department claimed that President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin are taking steps to ensure national security.
The Trump administration's efforts to deport Somali asylum seekers have been ongoing since Operation Metro Surge, a federal enforcement action in Minnesota last winter. The operation resulted in the detention of 3,800 immigrants, with only about 100 being Somali immigrants. Federal officials have since changed tactics, creating a "rocket docket" that allows judges to hold online hearings involving Somali nationals.
Immigration attorneys have expressed concerns about the "rocket docket" and its impact on Somali asylum seekers. The hearings are typically held outside public scrutiny and are restricted to attorneys, immigrants, and their families. An immigration court spokesperson stated that the court prioritizes the "timely completion of all cases" and noted that federal law calls for asylum applications to be decided within 180 days.
The spike in deportation orders is having a broader impact on Minnesota's Somali community, according to Osman Ahmed, founder of Talo Table. He stated that the situation is "much more dangerous and harmful to families" than the federal surge. Somalis are also no longer guaranteed asylum if threatened by the terrorist group Al Shabaab or retribution for interclan marriages.
Key points
- Over 500 Somalis in Minnesota face deportation this year.
- The Trump administration has fast-tracked hundreds of asylum cases involving Somalis.
- Deportation orders have increased nearly tenfold from 2025.
