A usually bustling Minneapolis mall that hosts dozens of Somali shops was largely quiet Wednesday as anxiety over the federal immigration operation in the Twin Cities spreads.
“We’ve never been empty like this,” a woman who runs a hair salon told CNN. She said usually “we are busy, always working, but today there is nobody … they are hiding.”
The Karmel Mall is filled with rows of boutiques selling traditional Somali attire, colorful prayer mats and gold jewelry. Offices interspersed offer visa and overseas shipping services.
Some members of the Somali community at the mall are carrying their US passports on them everywhere where they go.
“I got my passport right here, I’m not going to lie to you,” said Edil, a 24-year-old American-born Somali woman who only wanted to give her first name, describing the situation as “insane.”
“I don’t even carry an ID on me. So, to carry a passport now for my own safety is, I think, not right.”
Mohamed Amin Ahmed said the mall typically has “amazing” energy. “Commerce is something that the Somali community does very well,” he added.
Ahmed told CNN he’s faced backlash within his community because he campaigned for President Donald Trump during last year’s election.
“People are saying ‘we told you so … you gave us this presidency, and now we are being called garbage,’” he said.
“I’ve got five children – my children are not garbage.”
Despite this, Ahmed said he maintains hope in Trump. He said if he could speak to the president he would implore him to “differentiate between good, bad, and evil.”