DHS disputes Omar claim ICE stopped her son
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it has 'zero record' of ICE agents pulling over Rep. Ilhan Omar's son after a Target trip, contradicting Omar's Sunday WCCO interview in which she said he was released after showing a passport. The DHS statement, which also criticized the accusation as demonizing ICE, comes amid expanded immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities targeting the Somali community.
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📊 Relevant Data
There were about 430 Somalis living in Minnesota with Temporary Protected Status as of November 2025. ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/)) ([Star Tribune (via Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/startribune/posts/there-were-about-430-somalis-living-in-minnesota-with-temporary-protected-status/1234806088693430/))
There were about 430 Somalis living in Minnesota with Temporary Protected Status — Star Tribune (via Facebook)
36.4% of Somalis in Minnesota live below the poverty line, compared to the state average of around 9%. ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali)) ([Minnesota Compass](https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali))
Somali population - Cultural communities - Minnesota Compass — Minnesota Compass
ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis targeted and arrested criminal illegal aliens, including pedophiles, domestic abusers, and gang members. ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge)) ([Department of Homeland Security](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/04/ice-arrests-worst-worst-criminal-illegal-aliens-during-operation-metro-surge))
ICE Arrests Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens During Operation Metro Surge — Department of Homeland Security
73.9% of Somalis in Minnesota have a high school degree or higher, but 31.2% receive food stamps/SNAP benefits. ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/)) ([Empowering Strategies](https://empoweringstrategies.org/latest-data-on-somali-minnesotans-2024/))
Latest Data on Somali Minnesotans 2024 — Empowering Strategies
Approximately 107,000 people of Somali descent live in Minnesota, representing about 2% of the state's population, with 78% residing in the Twin Cities. ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/)) ([KTTC](https://www.kttc.com/2025/12/04/by-numbers-minnesotas-somali-population-according-census-data/))
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to Census data — KTTC
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. Ilhan Omar told WCCO that ICE agents pulled over her son and released him after he produced a passport
- DHS issued a statement saying it has 'zero record' of such a stop and called the claim a PR stunt that demonizes ICE
- The dispute unfolds during a surge of ICE activity in the Twin Cities focused on Somali nationals
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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