{{short description|Americans of Somali birth or descent}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Somali Americans | image = {{switcher |300px |By county |300px |By state |default=1 }} | caption = | population = '''169,799''' (2023)<br />Total Somali ancestry<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B04006?q=b04006|title=B04006 People Reporting Ancestry – 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />'''92,401''' (2023)<br />Somalia-born<ref name="USCB">{{cite web|title=PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, Universe: Foreign-born population excluding population born at sea, 2023 American Community Survey Estimates|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B05006?q=B05006:%20Place%20of%20Birth%20for%20the%20Foreign-Born%20Population%20in%20the%20United%20States}}</ref> | regions = {{hlist| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington; Columbus, Ohio; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue<ref name="Popborn"/>}} | langs = {{hlist| Somali | American English| }} | rels = Predominantly Sunni Islam | related_groups = Somali Canadians | native_name = {{native name|so|Soomaalida Maraykanka}} }} {{Black and Afro African American topics sidebar}} '''Somali Americans''' are Americans of Somali ancestry. The first ethnic Somalis to arrive in the United States were sailors who came in the 1920s from British Somaliland. They were followed by students pursuing higher studies in the 1960s and 1970s. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s and early 1990s, more Somalis arrived.
In the mid and late 1990s, the largest number of Somalis arrived, after civil war in Somalia. The Somali community in the US is now among the largest in the Somali diaspora.
==History== {{Main|History of Somalis in Minneapolis–Saint Paul}} [[File:1804 - 1808 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W..JPG|thumb|The former Somali embassy in Washington, D.C.]] The first Somalis in the United States were a small group of sailors who settled in New York City in the 1920s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilhide |first=Anduin |title=Somali and Somali American Experiences in Minnesota {{!}} MNopedia |url=https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/somali-and-somali-american-experiences-minnesota |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=www.mnhs.org |language=en}}</ref> Eventually acquiring American citizenship, they actively participated in the Somali independence movement and served as key liaisons whenever Somali political figures visited the UN headquarters.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} For their substantial contributions to Somali society, these early Somali expatriates were rewarded with medals by the Somali government and some were also issued land back home.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}
Following Somali independence in 1960, Somali students began arriving in the US to pursue higher studies while living with relatives or on scholarships. Many of the young returned to Somalia after graduation and played an important role in the development of Somalia. In the 1980s, a small number of Somalis settled in the United States. They were later joined by many other ethnic Somalis from different backgrounds, who sought asylum in the US after the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia, or emigrated from other parts of Greater Somalia.<ref name="Putmannoor">{{cite book|last=Diana Briton Putman|first=Mohamood Cabdi Noor|title=The Somalis: Their History and Culture|year=1993|publisher=Center for Applied Linguistics|pages=1}}</ref>
A large number of the Somali immigrants settled in Minnesota, which by 2002 harbored the largest population of Somalis in North America.<ref name="Imgpnanss">{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/New_Americans_in_the_North_Star_State_2009.pdf|title=New Americans in the North Star State|publisher=American Immigration Council|work=Immigration Policy Center|access-date=30 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104164313/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/New_Americans_in_the_North_Star_State_2009.pdf|archive-date=4 November 2009}}</ref> Many of the newer arrivals came through voluntary agencies (VOLAGS) contracted with the State Department, who helped them settle in.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 MAA-CBO Directory|url=http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/maacboguide.pdf|publisher=Minnesota DOH|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031042232/http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/maacboguide.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter=The Newest African-Americans?: Somali Struggles for Belonging|first=Cawo Mohamed|last=Abdi|pages=19–32|title=The Contexts of Diaspora Citizenship: Somali Communities in Finland and the United States|series=International Perspectives on Migration|editor-first1=Päivi|editor-last1=Armila|editor-first2=Marko|editor-last2=Kananen|editor-first3=Yasemin|editor-last3=Kontkanen|publisher=Springer|location=Cham|year=2019|volume=17|isbn=9783319944890|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-94490-6_2|s2cid=54729447 |url=https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/bildhaan/vol11/iss1/12}}</ref> In 2006, Somalis in the state accounted for $164–$394 million in purchasing power and owned 600 businesses.<ref name="Ecsm">{{cite web|url=http://www.faaiidowadaag.com/economic.pdf#page=2|title=Economic Contributions of Somalis in Minnesota| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230074400/http://www.faaiidowadaag.com/economic.pdf| archive-date= December 30, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The city of Minneapolis in particular hosts hundreds of Somali-owned and operated commercial ventures. In 2015, there were 57,000 residents in Minnesota of Somali ancestry, among whom 31,400 were born in Somalia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Immigration & Language|url=https://mn.gov/admin/demography/data-by-topic/immigration-language/|publisher=Minnesota State Demographic Center|access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref>
Somalis in the United States often send resources to their extended families abroad, remittances that were facilitated by the signing of the 2014 Money Remittances Improvement Act.<ref name="Eaprmiathsfsmh">{{cite web|title=Ellison and Paulsen Reintroduce Money Remittances Improvement Act To Help Somali Families Send Money Home|url=http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-and-paulsen-reintroduce-money-remittances-improvement-act-to|publisher=House Office of Keith Ellison|access-date=26 August 2014|date=6 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120503/http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-and-paulsen-reintroduce-money-remittances-improvement-act-to|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, following a greatly improved security situation in Somalia, many Somali US residents began returning to Mogadishu and other parts of the country.<ref name="Srdhr">{{cite news|title=SOMALIA: Returning diaspora help rebuild |url=http://heegantimes.com/somalia-returning-diaspora-help-rebuild/ |access-date=19 February 2015 |newspaper=Heegan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420031149/http://heegantimes.com/somalia-returning-diaspora-help-rebuild/ |archive-date=April 20, 2013 }}</ref> A few of the homeward-bound immigrants along with some American-born associates have been sought and/or prosecuted for allegedly providing material support to the Al-Shabaab and Islamic State political militant groups.<ref>{{cite news |title=Terror Trial of 4 Somalis Begins |author=Moran, Greg |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/31/tp-terror-trial-of-4-somalis-begins/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=8 February 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314220344/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/jan/31/tp-terror-trial-of-4-somalis-begins/| archive-date= March 14, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Forliti|first1=Amy|title=Feds: Minnesota men spoke of terrorist attacks in US|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/db0231f992d949e8a21a02b0d98b8f65/feds-minnesota-men-spoke-terrorist-attacks-us|access-date=1 May 2016|work= The Big Story|agency=Associated Press|date=21 April 2016}}</ref> However, according to intelligence officials, fewer expatriates were joining the groups' ranks by late 2013.<ref name="Casrit">{{cite news|title=Al-Shabaab Recruits in the U.S.|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1309/23/cnr.02.html|access-date=28 September 2013|newspaper=CNN|date=23 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Report: ISIS publishes 'kill list' for Minnesota police officers|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/report-isis-publishes-kill-list-for-minnesota-police-officers/article/2586040|access-date=8 May 2016|agency=Washington Examiner}}</ref>
Most of the returnees have instead repatriated for investment opportunities and to take part in the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process in Somalia. Participating in the renovation of schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure, they have played a leading role in Mogadishu's recovery and have helped propel the local real estate market.<ref name="Srdhr"/>
Somalis in the US have been the subject of rhetorical attacks from Donald Trump. In a rally two days before the 2016 US presidential election, Trump called Somalis "a disaster" for Minnesota.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/donald-trump-minnesota-somali-migrants-isis|title=Somali migrants are 'disaster' for Minnesota, says Donald Trump|first1=Ben|last1=Jacobs|first2=Alan|last2=Yuhas|work=The Guardian|date=7 November 2016|accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref> During his second term as president of the United States, Trump engaged in what ''The Guardian'' has described as "extended racist tirade[s]" against Somalis in the US and in Minnesota specifically, stating in December 2025: "Those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain". A week earlier, Trump had called Somalis "garbage" and "said he didn't want any of them to be in the US".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/04/trump-somalis-minneapolis-ice|title=Trump lashes out at Somalis again as Minneapolis stands behind community|first=Rachel|last=Leingang|work=The Guardian|date=4 December 2025|accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref> Trump's administration has ended the Temporary Protected Status program for Somalis in Minnesota and directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct raids in Minneapolis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dy1613j2ro|title='Not becoming of a president': Somali-Americans respond to Trump's 'garbage' remarks|first=Brandon|last=Drenon|publisher=BBC News|date=4 December 2025|accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref> Trump has falsely claimed that Ilhan Omar, the US representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district, who is Somali-American, is in the US "illegally".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/09/fact-check-trump-speech-pennsylvania|title=Fact check: Trump's racist and false claims on immigration and cost of living|first=Sam|last=Levin|work=The Guardian|date=10 December 2025|accessdate=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/12/10/fact-checking-trumps-pennsylvania-speech-and-his-politico-interview|title=Fact-checking Trump's Pennsylvania speech and his Politico interview|publisher=Al Jazeera|first=Sarah|last=Shamim|date=10 December 2025|accessdate=10 December 2025}}</ref>
==Demographics== thumb|right|300px| Counties of Minnesota by percent with Somali ancestry
Estimates of the number of Somali immigrants living in the United States vary widely, ranging from 35,760 to 150,000 persons.<ref name="CSHIU">{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/guidestoolkits/EthnographicGuides/Somalia/chapters/chapter1.pdf|title=Tuberculosis (TB) – CDC|date=27 July 2017|website=www.cdc.gov|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> 2010 American Community Survey data indicates that there are approximately 85,700 people with Somali ancestry in the US. Of those, around 25,000 or one third live in Minnesota;<ref name="Mprsnoituslim">{{cite web|title=Survey: Nearly 1 in 3 US Somalis live in Minnesota|date=14 December 2010 |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/12/14/american-community-survey-initial-findings|publisher=MPR|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> 21,000 of the latter were born in Somalia.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Foreign-Born Population From Africa: 2008–2012|url=https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/acs/acsbr12-16.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> Nationwide, 76,205 were Somalia-born.<ref name="Popborn">{{cite web|title=Ten Largest African-Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2008–2012|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2014/acs/acsbr12-16_supptab2.pdf|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> Somalis are the second largest ethnic group from the Horn of Africa, after Ethiopians.
In 2008–2012, the largest concentration of Somalia-born people in the United States were in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area (17,320) of Minnesota. Other metropolitan areas with significant numbers of Somali Americans include Columbus, Ohio (10,280), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue in Washington (7,850), San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos in California (2,845), Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria in the Virginia-D.C. area (2,715), Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta in Georgia (2,305), Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale in Arizona (1,965), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro in Oregon (1,480), Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin in Tennessee (1,420), Boston-Cambridge-Quincy in Massachusetts (1,380), and other areas (28,650).<ref name="Popborn"/>
In 2014, the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution marking July 1 as Somali American Day. The event commemorates the Independence Day of Somalia, which is annually celebrated on the same day.<ref name="Mcfsad">{{cite news|title=Minneapolis celebrates first Somali-American Day|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/07/01/somali-american-day|access-date=30 October 2014|agency=Minnesota Public Radio|date=1 July 2014}}</ref> The council also approved a resolution making Minneapolis and Bosaso in northeastern Somalia, sister cities.<ref name="Mccanscis">{{cite news|title=Minneapolis City Council Approves New Sister City In Somalia|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/10/10/minneapolis-city-council-approves-new-sister-city-in-somalia/|access-date=30 October 2014|agency=CBS|date=10 October 2014}}</ref> In 2014, the Federal Government of Somalia announced that it would start officially keeping count of Somalis abroad.<ref name="Sgtlpcaote">{{cite news|title=SOMALIA: Gov't to launch population census ahead of 2016 elections|url=http://koonfurta.com/somalia-govt-to-launch-population-census-ahead-of-2016-elections/|access-date=30 October 2014|agency=Koonfurta|date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030155132/http://koonfurta.com/somalia-govt-to-launch-population-census-ahead-of-2016-elections/|archive-date=30 October 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===By state=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! style="text-align:center;"|'''State'''<ref name="v524">{{cite web |title=Somali ancestry in the US by state|website=Peter M. Grund|url=https://petermgrund.com/citations/somali-mn#by-state|access-date=2025-12-14}}</ref> ! style="text-align:center;"|'''Number''' ! style="text-align:center;"|'''Percent of state''' |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Minnesota}} |align="right"|{{nts|91111}} |align="right"|1.60% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Ohio}} |align="right"|{{nts|26160}} |align="right"|0.22% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Washington}} |align="right"|{{nts|16931}} |align="right"|0.22% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|California}} |align="right"|{{nts|7750}} |align="right"|0.02% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|New York}} |align="right"|{{nts|6505}} |align="right"|0.03% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Texas}} |align="right"|{{nts|5824}} |align="right"|0.02% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Missouri}} |align="right"|{{nts|4350}} |align="right"|0.07% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Virginia}} |align="right"|{{nts|4243}} |align="right"|0.05% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Massachusetts}} |align="right"|{{nts|4184}} |align="right"|0.06% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Arizona}} |align="right"|{{nts|3924}} |align="right"|0.05% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Kentucky}} |align="right"|{{nts|3907}} |align="right"|0.09% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Nebraska}} |align="right"|{{nts|3788}} |align="right"|0.19% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Oregon}} |align="right"|{{nts|3777}} |align="right"|0.09% |- |border = "1"|{{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Georgia |align="right"|{{nts|3725}} |align="right"|0.03% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Colorado}} |align="right"|{{nts|3663}} |align="right"|0.06% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Wisconsin}} |align="right"|{{nts|3502}} |align="right"|0.06% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Maine}} |align="right"|{{nts|3443}} |align="right"|0.25% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Tennessee}} |align="right"|{{nts|3180}} |align="right"|0.05% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Utah}} |align="right"|{{nts|2128}} |align="right"|0.07% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|North Dakota}} |align="right"|{{nts|2058}} |align="right"|0.26% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Michigan}} |align="right"|{{nts|1979}} |align="right"|0.02% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Illinois}} |align="right"|{{nts|1844}} |align="right"|0.01% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Pennsylvania}} |align="right"|{{nts|1751}} |align="right"|0.01% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Iowa}} |align="right"|{{nts|1670}} |align="right"|0.05% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|North Carolina}} |align="right"|{{nts|1399}} |align="right"|0.01% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Maryland}} |align="right"|{{nts|1239}} |align="right"|0.02% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Kansas}} |align="right"|{{nts|993}} |align="right"|0.03% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Indiana}} |align="right"|{{nts|816}} |align="right"|0.01% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Vermont}} |align="right"|{{nts|740}} |align="right"|0.12% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Florida}} |align="right"|{{nts|615}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|South Dakota}} |align="right"|{{nts|556}} |align="right"|0.06% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Idaho}} |align="right"|{{nts|473}} |align="right"|0.03% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Alaska}} |align="right"|{{nts|376}} |align="right"|0.05% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Nevada}} |align="right"|{{nts|374}} |align="right"|0.01% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Connecticut}} |align="right"|{{nts|349}} |align="right"|0.01% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|New Hampshire}} |align="right"|{{nts|314}} |align="right"|0.02% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|New Jersey}} |align="right"|{{nts|303}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|South Carolina}} |align="right"|{{nts|194}} |align="right"|0.004% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|District of Columbia}} |align="right"|{{nts|192}} |align="right"|0.03% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Louisiana}} |align="right"|{{nts|141}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Oklahoma}} |align="right"|{{nts|127}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Alabama}} |align="right"|{{nts|120}} |align="right"|0.002% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|New Mexico}} |align="right"|{{nts|81}} |align="right"|0.004% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Rhode Island}} |align="right"|{{nts|64}} |align="right"|0.006% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Mississippi}} |align="right"|{{nts|63}} |align="right"|0.002% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Arkansas}} |align="right"|{{nts|46}} |align="right"|0.002% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Hawaii}} |align="right"|{{nts|45}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Delaware}} |align="right"|{{nts|32}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Puerto Rico}} |align="right"|{{nts|27}} |align="right"|0.0008% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|West Virginia}} |align="right"|{{nts|26}} |align="right"|0.001% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Wyoming}} |align="right"|{{nts|18}} |align="right"|0.003% |- |border = "1"|{{flag|Montana}} |align="right"|{{nts|17}} |align="right"|0.002% |}
==Employment== [[File:Little Somalia Columbus Ohio USA.jpg|thumb|This strip mall in the Northland neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio has several Somali businesses: a funds transfer company, grocery store, entertainment center, and restaurant.]]
Many Somali refugees in the US have experienced difficulties accessing the labor market at first, but have been experiencing a steady increase in employment rates in recent years. At the time of the 2010 census, 47% of Somalis in Minnesota were employed, 13% unemployed and 40% were economically inactive. By comparison, the unemployment amongst the state's overall foreign-born population was 6%.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Facts and figures: Somalis in Finland and in the United States|first1=Marko|last1=Kananen|first2=Ville-Samuli|last2=Haverinen|pages=3–18|title=The Contexts of Diaspora Citizenship: Somali Communities in Finland and the United States|editor-first1=Päivi|editor-last1=Armila|editor-first2=Marko|editor-last2=Kananen|editor-first3=Yasemin|editor-last3=Kontkanen|publisher=Springer|location=Cham|year=2019|isbn=9783319944890|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-94490-6_1|s2cid=158625854}}</ref>
Earlier data from the 2000 US Census indicated a gender disparity in employment among Somali immigrants in Minneapolis: 65% of Somali men were employed compared to 35% of Somali women. This was cited by Helskog, who argued that finding unemployed Somalis in Minneapolis was difficult.<ref>{{cite book|last=Helskog|first=Gerhard|year=2008|title=Innvandrernes supermakt: Hva Norge kan lære av USAs suksess|language=NO|location=Oslo|publisher=Kagge Forlag AS|isbn=9788248908418}} Cited in {{cite thesis|last=Schulze|first=Solveig Lisa|year=2010|title=Somalis in the Twin Cities and Oslo: Globalization, Migration, and Transnationalism|degree=Master Degree in International Social Welfare and Health Policy|publisher=Oslo University College|url=https://oda.oslomet.no/oda-xmlui/handle/10642/482}}</ref>
Similarly, researcher Cindy Horst noted that Somali immigrants in Minneapolis were often perceived as economically active and highly engaged in the labor market, particularly among men.<ref>{{cite web|last=Horst|first=Cindy|title=Connected Lives: Somalis in Minneapolis, Family Responsibilities and the Migration Dreams of Relatives|publisher=UNHCR United States|date=July 2006|url=https://www.unhcr.org/us/media/connected-lives-somalis-minneapolis-family-responsibilities-and-migration-dreams-relatives}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=July 2025}}
At the national level, survey data over the period 2011 to 2015 showed that 58% of working-age Somali Americans were employed, and 5.1% were self-employed.<ref name=CarlsonChambers>{{cite news|url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2017/05/tale-twin-cities-and-somalis-being-trumped/|title=A Tale of Twin Cities and Somalis being Trumped|first1=Benny|last1=Carlson|first2=Stefanie|last2=Chambers|work=MinnPost|date=23 May 2017|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> In Minnesota, Somali Americans had slightly higher employment and self-employment rates, at 62% and 5.9% respectively, a difference attributed to the state's strong economy.<ref name=CarlsonChambers/>
Analysis by the Fiscal Studies Institute of 2014 American Community Survey five-year data showed that the labour force participation rate of Somali men aged 25 to 64 was 84%, with the rate for women being 64%, compared to 81% and 73% of US-born men and women respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://kypolicy.org/report-explores-contributions-refugees-kentucky-u-s/|title=Report Explores Contributions of Refugees to Kentucky and the U.S.|publisher=Kentucky Center for Economic Policy|first=Gayle|last=Bartilow|date=27 July 2016|accessdate=15 July 2025}}</ref>
==Community organizations== [[File:SSA Culture Day.jpg|thumb|A Somali cultural event hosted by the Somali Student Association at the University of Minnesota.]] The Somali community in the United States is represented by various Somali-run organizations. Somali Community Services in San Jose and the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO) on the west coast offer guidance to new Somali families and works closely with the municipal authorities to strengthen civic relations.<ref name="Moam">{{cite web|title=Member Organizations|url=http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nnaac/pages/35/attachments/original/1393808891/NNAAC-AR20125.pdf?1393808891|publisher=National Network for Arab American Communities|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FBI Honors Local Somali American with the Director's Community Leadership Award|url=https://www.fbi.gov/portland/press-releases/2011/fbi-honors-local-somali-american-with-the-directors-community-leadership-award|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref>
The Somali Community Access Network (SomaliCAN) is one of several groups serving Columbus' Somali community.<ref>{{cite web|title=SomaliCAN – Our Mission|url=http://www.somalican.org/|publisher=Somali Community Access Network|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref> In Minnesota, the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM), Somali American Parent Association (SAPA), and Somali Action Alliance also offer various social services to the state's resident Somalis.<ref name="Moam"/><ref>{{cite web|title=CSCM – About Us|url=http://www.cscmn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508165601/http://www.cscmn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=27|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 8, 2012|publisher=Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Somali American Parent Association|url=http://www.mnsapa.org/|publisher=Somali American Parent Association|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref>
Politically, a Somali American Caucus in the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) was formed to represent the Somali community.<ref>{{cite web|title=Somali American Caucus|url=http://www.dfl.org/inner.asp?z=5E5E5959|publisher=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|access-date=9 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123002425/http://dfl.org/inner.asp?z=5E5E5959|archive-date=23 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A Somali American also chairs the Republican Party's Immigrant Relations Committee in Minnesota.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shah|first=Allie|title=Somali-Americans begin making mark on local politics|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/173985311.html?refer=y|access-date=9 February 2013|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=13 October 2012}}</ref>
==Legal issues and political climate==
=== Food and Healthcare Fraud Investigations === Since 2022, the Somali American community in Minnesota has been at the center of several high-profile federal fraud investigations. The most significant was the Feeding Our Future scandal, described by the Department of Justice as the largest pandemic-related fraud scheme in the U.S. Federal prosecutors alleged that a network of individuals, many of Somali descent, defrauded the government of approximately $250 million intended for child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feeding Our Future: U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Charges Against 47 Defendants |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/feeding-our-future-us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-against-47-defendants |website=U.S. Department of Justice |date=September 20, 2022}}</ref> As of early 2026, dozens of individuals have been convicted or pleaded guilty, with some receiving sentences of up to 12 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dozens Convicted in Minnesota's Massive Pandemic Fraud Case |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/feeding-our-future-fraud-sentencing |website=MPR News |date=February 2026}}</ref>
The investigations expanded into other sectors, including daycare and healthcare fraud.
* Daycare Fraud: In 2025, federal and state authorities launched a "surge" of investigations into Somali-owned childcare centers in the Twin Cities following allegations of $100 million in fraudulent billing through the Child Care Assistance Program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Surge in federal officers in Minnesota focuses on alleged fraud at day care centers |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/surge-in-federal-officers-in-minnesota-focuses-on-alleged-fraud-at-day-care-centers |website=PBS NewsHour |date=December 31, 2025}}</ref>
* Autism and Medicaid Fraud: Prosecutors have also charged individuals with defrauding the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, alleging that millions of dollars meant for children with autism were diverted for personal use, including luxury purchases and overseas investments.<ref>{{cite web |title=First Defendant Charged in Autism Fraud Scheme |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/first-defendant-charged-autism-fraud-scheme-0 |website=U.S. Department of Justice |date=September 24, 2025}}</ref>
=== Anti-Somali sentiment === While legal proceedings have focused on specific individuals, the fraud cases have contributed to a rise in broader anti-Somali sentiment. Community leaders and advocates, including Representative Ilhan Omar, have argued that the actions of a few are being used to "scapegoat" the entire community.<ref>{{cite web |last=Olivares |first=José |title=Ilhan Omar calls Trump's anti-Somali tirade 'completely disgusting' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/07/ilhan-omar-trump-anti-somali-tirade-disgusting |work=The Guardian |date=7 December 2025}}</ref>
Incidents of Anti-Somali sentiment rhetoric increased significantly in late 2025 following comments by President Trump, who referred to the community as "garbage" and suggested they "contribute nothing" during a cabinet meeting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump's Words Aren't Just Insults—They're Policy Signals |url=https://www.nilc.org/articles/trumps-words-arent-just-insults-theyre-policy-signals/ |website=National Immigration Law Center |date=December 12, 2025}}</ref> This rhetoric has coincided with:
* Vandalism and Harassment: Reports of vandalism at Somali-run businesses and harassment of women wearing hijabs in Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web |title=CAIR-MN Condemns Latest Racist Attack on Somali Community |url=https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mn-condemns-latest-racist-attack-on-somali-community-by-president-trump/ |website=CAIR-MN |date=January 20, 2026}}</ref>
* Policy Shifts: The citing of fraud cases as justification for the suspension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals and increased ICE enforcement operations specifically targeting Somali neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump says he doesn't want Somali migrants in the U.S. |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-says-he-doesnt-want-somali-migrants-in-the-u-s-calls-people-garbage |website=PBS NewsHour |date=December 2, 2025}}</ref>
==Diplomatic missions== Somalis in the United States are represented by the embassy of Somalia in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Espnanatus">{{cite news|title=Ex-Somalia PM named as new ambassador to US|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Ex-Somalia-PM-named-as-new-ambassador-to-US_printer.shtml|access-date=12 July 2014|agency=Garowe Online|date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809003848/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Ex-Somalia-PM-named-as-new-ambassador-to-US_printer.shtml|archive-date=9 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The embassies of Djibouti and Ethiopia in the capital provide additional diplomatic representation for resident ethnic Somalis.<ref name="Osle">{{cite web|title=List of Embassies|url=http://os.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/os/publication/attachments/OS%20List%20of%20Embassies.pdf|publisher=Office of the Secretary|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> The breakaway region of Somaliland maintains a representative office in Washington as well.
==Notable people== [[File:Ilhan Omar, official portrait, 116th Congress (cropped) A.jpg|thumb|150px|Member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota Ilhan Omar]] [[File:Iman Abdulmajid.jpg|thumb|150px|upright|Somali American model Iman]] {{main article|List of Somali Americans}}
<!-- Abridged per MOS:EMBED; do not modify - only extant bios/no redirects per WP:WTAF - main link-through for full list --> {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|<!-- Please respect alphabetical order --> *Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, diplomat, professor and politician; former president of Somalia (2017–2022) *Ilhan Omar, congresswoman, first Somali American elected to US House of Representatives *Dahir Adan Elmi, chief commander of Somali National Army, 2000s *Mohammad Ali Samatar, former Somali prime minister 1987–1990 *Ali Khalif Galaydh, Somali politician and former minister, 1980s *Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, economist, former Somali prime minister *Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed, educator and politician; former Minister of Education of Somalia *Abdirahman Duale Beyle, economist; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia *Abdisalam Omer, economist; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia *Abdullahi Ahmed Irro, professor; retired Somali general *Alisha Boe, actress *Asha Ahmed Abdalla, politician; former member of the Transitional Federal Parliament *Asli Hassan Abade, military pilot *Ayaan Hirsi Ali, writer, political activist, former legislator *Deqa Dhalac, mayor of South Portland, Maine *Halima Aden, supermodel *Hassan Ali Mire, politician; former Minister of Education of Somalia *Hodan Ahmed, political activist *Fatima Jibrell, environmental activist; co-founder of Adeso *Idil Ibrahim, film director, producer and entrepreneur; founder of Zeila Films *Iman, supermodel, actress and entrepreneur *Muna Khalif, fashion designer and legislator; MP in Federal Parliament of Somalia *Musse Olol, social activist; recipient of the 2011 Director's Community Leadership Award *Nuruddin Farah, writer *Raqiya Haji Dualeh Abdalla, sociologist and politician; president of the Somali Family Care Network *Saado Ali Warsame, singer-songwriter and politician *Said Sheikh Samatar, scholar, historian and writer *Sofia Samatar, professor, editor and writer }}
==See also== {{Portal|Somalia|United States}} *Somali diaspora *Dalmar TV, a Somali-language television network *History of the Somalis in Minneapolis–Saint Paul *Somalia–United States relations
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://somalidiaspora.net/ Somali Diaspora]
{{Somali diaspora}} {{Arab diaspora}} {{Arab American}} {{North African American}} {{African immigration to the United States}} {{Demographics of the United States}}
Category:Horn African diaspora in the United States Category:American people of Somali descent American Category:Somali diaspora in the United States Category:Somali-American history Category:Refugees in the United States