U.S. Somali Deportations Trigger National Outcry as Omar Condemns “Weaponization of Fear”

The United States faced a surge of political, legal, and public backlash on Saturday after former President Donald Trump authorized a fast-moving deportation operation targeting Somali nationals across several states. The directive, executed overnight, sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, prompted emergency legal interventions, and reignited long-standing national debates around race, immigration, and executive power.

Homeland Security officials mobilized multiple aircraft and enforcement teams in what observers described as one of the largest single-day removals in recent years. Videos posted online showed buses escorted by law enforcement, sealed airport perimeters, and families gathering outside community centers seeking information about detained relatives.

In Minneapolis, home to the nation’s largest Somali community, local hotlines were overwhelmed as residents reported unannounced visits and sudden detentions. Schools and small businesses in Somali neighborhoods saw significant absences, with many families choosing to stay inside.

Omar Condemns Operation as “Fear, Not Security”

Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the most prominent Somali American officials in the U.S., denounced the operation as discriminatory and ethically indefensible.

“This is not immigration enforcement. This is the weaponization of fear,” Omar said in a televised statement Saturday morning. “A community that has contributed to this country for decades is now being treated as a threat.”

Her remarks received support from civil rights organizations and legal advocacy groups, many of which argued the operation raises constitutional concerns related to due process and equal protection. Conservative commentators, meanwhile, praised the action as a demonstration of “restored authority” on immigration.

Communities Confront Uncertainty and Fear

Community leaders say the deportations have reopened long-standing wounds stemming from prior travel bans and heightened scrutiny of Muslim and East African immigrants. NPR interviews with residents described an atmosphere of “panic” and “powerlessness,” with parents pulling children from school and families preparing emergency legal documents.

“This feels like history repeating itself,” said one Minneapolis community organizer. “People are afraid to answer the door.”

Legal Challenges Expected

Immigration attorneys across the U.S. say the speed and scale of the operation raise questions about the government’s compliance with standard enforcement procedures. Several legal groups have already begun preparing injunction requests, arguing that individuals may have been detained without adequate notice or access to counsel.

“The constitutional issues here are significant,” said a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. “We are likely to see urgent challenges in federal court.”

International Reaction and Diplomatic Strain

The government of Somalia issued a statement expressing “serious concern,” arguing that the abrupt return of large groups poses humanitarian and logistical challenges. Human rights experts in Europe and Africa criticized the move, warning that it could normalize ethnically targeted removals in other nations.

A Defining Moment in America’s Immigration Identity

Political analysts say the December 6 operation represents a sharp escalation in U.S. immigration enforcement — and may shape the national conversation heading into the next election cycle.

For many Somali American families, however, the consequences are immediate and deeply personal.

“People came here believing this country would protect them,” an NPR correspondent reported from Minneapolis. “Tonight, many are questioning that belief for the first time.”