SAINT PAUL, Minn. - On Friday, President Trump announced intent to remove Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Somali individuals who are in the U.S. due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia. This morning, a community response was held in the Capitol Rotunda.
Senate District 49 officials Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL – Eden Prairie), Rep. Alex Falconer (DFL – Minnetonka), and Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL – Eden Prairie) released the following statement:
"The President's tirade against refugees and immigrants has converged with his desire to settle political scores, and our neighbors are caught in the crossfire. Not only is his action morally reprehensible; it's also ineffective.
“The vast majority of Somali immigrants in Minnesota are United States citizens. Tweets from the President’s virtual bully pulpit do nothing but instill panic and invite racism to flourish.
“As Americans and elected officials, we call for an end to this dangerous rhetoric and hope the President will work to unite us, rather than divide us. We stand, now and always, with our Somali community and against bigotry and discrimination."
On Saturday, the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus released a statement in response. That statement can be found here.
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Delegation quote Somali translation: “Waxaa kulmay cadhada uu Madaxweynuhu u qabo qaxootiga iyo muhaajiriinta iyo isagoo doonaya inuu aargoosi siyaadadeed sameyo, taasi waxay keentay inay dhib u gaysato deriskayaga oo aan shaqo ku lahayn. Keliya ma aha in ficilkiisu yahay mid aan damiir ahaan loo dulqaadan karin; ee xataa waa mid aan wax macno ah samyanayn.
Inta badan dadka Soomaalida ah ee degan gobolka Minnesota waa dad haysta Dhalashada Maraykanka. Tiwitarka uu Madaxweynuhu soo diray. Waa mid u muuqda cabsi gelin aan waxba tarayn keliya waxay abuuraysaa cabsi iyo in cunsuriyaddu sii faafto.
Sidaa darted hadii aanu nahay muwaadaniin maraykan ah isla markaana ah madaxdii dadku doorteen, waxaan ku baaqaynaa in la joojiyo hadalada xanafta leh ee khatarta ah isla markaana waxaan rajaynaynaa inuu Madaxweynuhu ka shaqeeyo sidii uu noo midayn lahaa intii uu na kala qaybin lahaa. Waxaanu hadda iyo mar walba garab taagan nahay bulshadayadda Soomaalliyeed waxaanuna ka soo horjeednaa cunsuriyadda iyo midab takoorka.”