WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he does not want Somali immigrants in the United States, claiming they are overly dependent on the U.S. social safety net and contribute little to the country. His remarks mark a continuation of his pointed criticism of the Somali community, particularly in Minnesota, where many have settled since the 1990s as refugees.

During a Cabinet meeting, Trump made sweeping generalizations about Somali immigrants, saying, "They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country." He further stated, "Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don’t want them in our country."

These comments came shortly after his administration announced a halt to all asylum decisions following a shooting incident involving two National Guard soldiers in Washington. Although the suspect was from Afghanistan, Trump used the opportunity to question the presence of immigrants from various countries, including Somalia.

Trump has long criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who emigrated from Somalia as a child. His recent attacks intensified after a conservative activist published unverified claims suggesting that funds misappropriated from Minnesota programs were funneled to al-Shabab, a militant group linked to al-Qaida.

In a social media post, Trump vowed to send Somalis "back to where they came from" and labeled Minnesota as a "hub of fraudulent money laundering activity." He urged Somali immigrants to "go back to where they came from and fix it," and indicated plans to end temporary legal protections for Somalis in Minnesota. This announcement has raised concerns within the state's immigrant community about the legality and implications of such a directive.

Critics, including state leaders and immigration experts, have condemned Trump's statements as legally questionable and harmful to the Somali community. A report for Congress indicated that only 705 Somalis nationwide are covered by Temporary Protected Status, a small fraction of the tens of thousands living in Minnesota.

Trump also reiterated his negative views on Omar, stating, "We can go one way or the other, and we’re going to go the wrong way, if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage."

In response, Omar criticized Trump on social media, saying, "His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs."

Trump further claimed that Somali immigrants do not contribute positively to society, stating, "These aren’t people that work. These aren’t people that say, ‘Let’s go, c’mon. Let’s make this place great.’ These are people that do nothing but complain."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey countered Trump’s assertions, calling them "wrong" and highlighting the positive impact of Somali immigrants in his community. "They have started businesses and created jobs. They have added to the cultural fabric of what Minneapolis is," Frey said. He criticized the vilification of an entire group, stating, "To again, villainize an entire group is ridiculous under any circumstances. And the way that Donald Trump is consistent in doing it, I think calls into question major constitutional violations. And it certainly violates the moral fabric of what we stand by in this country as Americans."