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

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. in 2024, with a significant population in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, defended the Somali community, emphasizing their contributions to the local economy and culture. Frey stated that Somali residents are valued members of the community.

In response to Trump's comments, Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar criticized his focus on the Somali community, describing it as an attempt to intimidate. Community organizations, such as the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), expressed concern over the increased immigration enforcement targeting Somali residents, characterizing it as politically motivated rather than a standard immigration policy. They called for equitable treatment of all immigrants and condemned the inflammatory language that could incite 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 Trump. Cuellar described 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 stated his intention to continue working with the Trump administration on issues of mutual interest, reaffirming his identity as a "conservative blue dog" Democrat. Trump framed Cuellar's indictment as an example of the Biden administration allegedly weaponizing the justice system against political opponents. Cuellar expressed that the pardon allows him to focus on his work in South Texas.