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(ABC 6 News) – Members of the Rochester Somali community gathered Friday night to hear from local schools, organizations and community leaders to support and learn from each other at a time where anxiety and uncertainty dominate their spaces.
Minnesota has recently been on of the Trump administration’s targets for immigration scrutiny, particularly the large Somali population within the state.
It’s caused wave of fear to pass through many in the community, like Khairia Abdulrahman, a Rochester mother whose life has been turned upside down by the administration’s targeting.
“Today I feel you know I’m nobody. I don’t know what I’m doing in the United States or why I’m still here,” she says. “I used to go to restaurants, enjoy Apache Mall, walking it and you know the playground, talking to different people. No more.”
Abdulrahman says the recent ramp up of ICE incidents and the President’s comments about Somalis being “garbage” have made her afraid to even leave her home.
For her and her family, it’s been so bad her 16-year-old daughter who was born at Mayo Clinic moved to Somalia because she felt it was safer there.
“She said I’m not going no more school because it’s drama they have,” Abdulrahman said. “So I don’t wanna get a problem, in a fight or something like that.”
Abdulrahman was one of dozens at Friday’s forum.
Hosted by the Somali American Social Service Association, the event gave community members the chance to speak directly with representatives from local schools and organizations on the best ways to navigate this period of uncertainty, particularly when dealing with ICE.
Mohamed Ibrahim was one of the speakers.
An attorney by trade, Ibrahim is also a community activist and grew up in Rochester.
“They’re leaving with something tangible,” he says. “They’re leaving with information that they could use to make sure that they can exercise their rights.”
The event also gave them the chance to see members of their own community in important positions, like doctors, teachers, and lawyers, and remind them of the value they bring to Minnesota.
“So if they call us garbage, that is unacceptable. We know who we are. It doesn’t affect us,” says SASSA Executive Director Omar Nur. “And also great news all of Minnesotans stand with us and we’ll continue what we are doing now. No one can stop us.”
The event connected locals to important resources as well including those that can help with legal needs, including CAIR Minnesota and the Southeastern Minnesota Interfaith Immigrant Legal Defense group.