Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s recent disparaging statements about Somali immigrants, calling the remarks “vile, racist lies and slander towards our fellow Minnesotans.”

Trump this week referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” and said “they’ve destroyed our country.” The comments came amid a federal immigration operation targeting Minnesota’s Somali community.

In a press release Thursday, an ICE spokesperson disclosed the names of a dozen men apprehended by agents. Five of the men are from Somalia.

Tens of thousands of Somali Americans call Minnesota home.

Speaking Thursday at an event on the latest state budget forecast, Walz started by addressing Trump’s comments. He lamented that “we’ve got little children going to school today, who their p

See Full Page