State Senator Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, sent a letter to President Donald Trump this week defending Somalis, following Trump’s disparaging remarks against them and reports of a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota.

Trump on Tuesday made xenophobic remarks about Somali immigrants, calling them “garbage” and saying “they’ve destroyed our country.”

Reports this week suggested a planned immigration enforcement operation would focus on Somali immigrants in Minnesota. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed a Minneapolis-focused operation, which it calls “Operation Metro Surge,” on Thursday.

While Minnesota’s most prominent DFL politicians sharply criticized Trump’s statements, Republican lawmakers at a budget event on Thursday gingerly fielded questions about Trump’s

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