U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers could be sent to major airports to focus on Somali migrants, raising tensions in an ongoing budget dispute with congressional Democrats and intensifying his long-standing criticism of East African communities.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would redeploy ICE tactical teams if Congress does not approve new funding for the Department of Homeland Security. He singled out Somali immigrants, saying they would receive “special emphasis” in an upcoming security operation.
“We will deploy our ICE officers to the nation’s airports to strengthen security as never before, including detaining individuals present illegally… with particular attention on those from Somalia,” the president wrote.
The announcement comes amid heightened legal challenges. Just days ago, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s plan to deport roughly 1,100 Somali nationals who were scheduled for removal this month. Despite this setback, the president appears determined to continue targeting the community, many of whom arrived in the United States seeking safety from conflict.
Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the country, has reportedly experienced the highest level of recent ICE activity. Trump has often highlighted the state in his anti-immigration messaging.
This latest statement follows a pattern of increasingly hostile remarks. In December, he drew criticism after calling Somali immigrants “garbage” and claiming they “contribute nothing,” while also making unverified claims of crime and corruption within Minnesota’s Somali community.
With the Department of Homeland Security operating without new funding for nearly five weeks, Trump is tying the stalemate directly to the future of thousands of migrants, signaling an escalation in his hardline approach toward immigration enforcement.
