Somali immigrants in Minnesota are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s claim that they don’t work and contribute nothing, pointing to decades of labor and entrepreneurship.
At Hamdi Restaurant on Minneapolis’ East Lake Street, owner Abdishakur Elmi moved to Minnesota from Somalia in the 1990s.
He said he and his family pay their dues to the state.
“We’re a hardworking family. We’re working seven days a week,” Elmi said.
His son, Abdihakin Daud, added, “Me and my dad, we work hard every single day.”
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Remarks by President Trump questioned Somali labor and contributions.
“These aren’t people that work,” Trump said. They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country,” he said.
However, Concordia University economist Dr. Bruce Corrie said his latest estimates show the following:
- Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in income annually,
- Somali’s pay about $67 million in state and local taxes
- Somali’s have an estimated $8 billion impact on the state’s economy
- Somali GDP is around $12 billion.
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“The estimated impact of these workers, Somali workers, in Minnesota could be about 8 billion dollars,” Corrie said. “And it’s about what they produce and how that production in terms generates and ripples through the economy.”
We asked him his thoughts on Trump’s comments that said Somali’s don’t contribute anything.
“I’d like to share that information with him, and he’d probably change his mind,” Corrie said.
RELATED: Trump says he doesn’t want Somalis in the US, urges them to go back to their homeland and fix it
He added that industries such as retail, health care, manufacturing and transportation would face immediate disruption if Somali workers left Minnesota.
According to the 2021 Minnesota Chamber Foundation Report, Somali Minnesotans have seen poverty levels drop, workforce participation rise, and homeownership increase. They are especially concentrated in home health care and food manufacturing, where they make up 11% of animal food processing workers.
Corrie noted Somali entrepreneurs, particularly women, are building businesses and strengthening civic life. He said Somali contributions are essential to Minnesota’s workforce and future growth.
Daud said the restaurant is not as busy as usual, with some customers staying away out of fear of immigration agents.
He also said the restaurant has received hostile calls.
“The guy was cussing my dad out. ‘Go back to your country. You’re a filthy Somali. You shouldn’t be in our state,’” Daud said.