Emmer blasted for 'go back' remark to Somali attendees
Rep. Tom Emmer told Somali attendees at a Minnesota town hall to "go the hell back to where they came from," drawing immediate outrage and calls for accountability.[1]
The remarks drew sharp criticism from Somali community members and civil-rights advocates in the Twin Cities, where Somali Americans are concentrated.[1] Emmer has since tried to reframe or temper his comments, but community leaders and advocates are demanding a full apology and other accountability.[1] Video of the exchange circulated widely on social media and intensified the backlash.[1]
In December 2025 Emmer publicly called for denaturalization and deportation of Somalis in Minnesota tied to alleged fraud, saying "Send them home" and offering to change laws to enable such actions. He pressed similar themes on Fox Business in December 2025 and again criticized Somali crime rates on Newsmax in early June 2026. Those remarks contrast with earlier positions in which he praised Somali assimilation in 2015 and helped found the Congressional Somalia Caucus while representing many Somali constituents in St. Cloud.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, estimated at roughly 80,000 to 108,000 people as of 2024, most living in the Twin Cities metro area. Local leaders say that demographic reality sharpens the political and social stakes of Emmer's comments as debates over immigration and accountability continue into the 2026 campaign season.
The mainstream summary does not address the demographic context surrounding Emmer's comments, which are particularly significant given that approximately 58% of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the U.S., and 87% of foreign-born Somalis are naturalized citizens. This demographic reality underscores the implications of Emmer's remarks, as they not only target a community that is largely integrated but also reflect a broader political shift in his rhetoric, contrasting sharply with his earlier praise for Somali assimilation and his role in founding the Congressional Somalia Caucus. The summary also overlooks the ongoing backlash from local leaders and civil rights advocates, who argue that Emmer's comments exacerbate anti-immigrant sentiments in a region where Somali Americans have established deep roots and contributions to the community. These perspectives highlight a crucial aspect of the political landscape as Minnesota approaches the 2026 campaign season, where immigration will remain a contentious issue.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with an estimated 80,000 to 108,000 people of Somali descent living in the state as of 2024, the large majority in the Twin Cities metro area.
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to Census data — KTTC
Approximately 58% of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the U.S., and 87% of the foreign-born are naturalized U.S. citizens.
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to Census data — KTTC
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. Tom Emmer told Somali attendees at a Minnesota town hall to 'go the hell back to where they came from' during an exchange about immigration and U.S. policy.
- The remarks sparked immediate backlash from Somali community members and civil‑rights advocates, especially in the Twin Cities where Somali Americans are heavily concentrated.
- Emmer has attempted to reframe or temper his comments but is facing ongoing demands for a full apology and accountability, with the controversy circulating widely on social media.
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