The Somali Community in Minnesota: Immigration, Citizenship, and Political Influence

Minnesota has become home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with estimates of around 80,000 people of Somali descent, primarily concentrated in the Twin Cities area. This community has grown significantly since the early 1990s, when Somalis began arriving as refugees fleeing civil war, famine, and instability in Somalia. Over time, secondary migration from other U.S. states, family reunification, and natural population growth have contributed to its size. Today, the vast majority of Somali Minnesotans are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

A common claim circulating in political discourse states that former President Barack Obama “dumped 80,000 Somalis into Minnesota,” who then elected Rep. Ilhan Omar, implying these voters were “not Americans.” This narrative oversimplifies and distorts the facts.

Refugee Resettlement Under Obama and Earlier Administrations
The U.S. refugee resettlement program is a federal initiative involving vetting by multiple agencies, with placements often influenced by existing community networks, job opportunities, and nonprofit resettlement agencies. Somalis began settling in Minnesota well before Obama’s presidency (2009–2017), drawn by welcoming policies, affordable housing, and jobs in meatpacking and manufacturing.

Fact-checks from multiple sources show:

Approximately 54,000 Somali refugees were resettled across the entire United States during Obama’s two terms.
Only around 6,300 of those went directly to Minnesota.

Earlier waves under President George W. Bush were larger in Minnesota (roughly 9,800). Total Somali refugee arrivals in Minnesota from 1979–2017 numbered about 24,000, with significant growth from secondary migration.
The broader ~80,000 figure for Somali-descent residents includes U.S.-born children, naturalized citizens, and long-term residents—not direct “dumping” by any single administration.

Ilhan Omar’s Election and Voter Base
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who arrived in the U.S. as a Somali refugee in the 1990s and became a naturalized citizen, won election to Congress in Minnesota’s 5th District in 2018. This is a heavily Democratic urban district where she secured a strong primary victory (over 65,000 votes) and general election support.

While the Somali-American community provides enthusiastic support and high turnout in local races—reflecting effective community organizing—Omar’s margin of victory required tens of thousands of votes from non-Somali voters. Somali-Americans represent only a portion of the district’s electorate. Claims that she was elected exclusively by “non-Americans” ignore that naturalized citizens have full voting rights under the U.S. Constitution, just like any other American.