On December 3, 2025, President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about Somali immigrants during a cabinet meeting, referring to them as "garbage" and asserting that they contribute nothing to the United States. This statement coincided with reports of a planned immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Trump's comments included disparaging remarks about Somalia, which he described as "barely a country," and he suggested that its citizens are responsible for societal violence.

The Trump administration also announced a suspension of immigration applications from 19 non-European countries, including Somalia and Afghanistan, citing national security and public safety concerns. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 260,000 individuals of Somali descent resided in the U.S. as of 2024, with a notable concentration in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Trump's rhetoric has previously included derogatory language towards various immigrant groups, and his recent focus on the Somali community has drawn criticism from local leaders and community organizations.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey defended the Somali community, emphasizing their contributions to the local economy and culture. Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar also criticized Trump's comments, framing them as an attempt to intimidate the Somali population. Organizations such as the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed concern over the implications of increased immigration enforcement, arguing that it appears politically motivated rather than a standard policy approach. They called for equitable treatment of all immigrants and condemned the inflammatory language that could foster fear and division.

In a separate but related development, Rep. Henry Cuellar, a moderate Democrat from South Texas, expressed gratitude for a pardon granted to him and his wife by President Trump. Cuellar characterized the period leading up to the pardon as challenging, claiming he was targeted by the Biden administration due to his criticisms of its border policies. He noted that the timing of his indictment, which occurred 40 days before an election, raised suspicions about the motivations behind the charges. Cuellar had been indicted in May 2024 for allegedly accepting bribes from an Azerbaijan-owned energy company and a Mexican bank.

Following the pardon, Cuellar reaffirmed his identity as a "conservative blue dog" Democrat and indicated his willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on issues of mutual interest. Trump, in announcing the pardon, claimed that the Biden administration had weaponized the justice system against political opponents, framing Cuellar's indictment as an example of this alleged misconduct. Cuellar expressed that the pardon allows him to focus on his work in South Texas.