Over the past two weeks, Minnesotans have witnessed a surge of immigration enforcement, largely directed against the Somali community.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, that crackdown, called “Operation Metro Surge,” swept up Mubashir, a Somali man who lives in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Like many other people, Mubashir thought his U.S. citizenship would ensure ICE didn’t arrest him. Nonetheless, while out to pick up food, he was tackled and arrested by immigration officers.
The incident has inspired public outrage, fear – and now, a community response. During a press conference with Mubashir on Tuesday, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) announced the launch of a new community task force to respond to ICE arrests.
So, what will this new task force look like? How do Somali Minnesotans plan to respond to the surge of ICE activity?
Sahan will be posing those issues – and your own questions – to Minnesota Senator Zaynab Mohamed, a Democrat who represents Senate District 63 which includes south Minneapolis and parts of Richfield.? We hope you can join us on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. for a conversation about community safety and how her community is responding to the wave of immigration activity.
You’ll have a chance to pose your questions during the event, or email them ahead of time to community engagement manager Hannah Ihekoronye at hihekoronye@sahanjournal.com. (Anonymous questions are welcome.)
Instagram Live: How are ICE actions affecting Somali Minnesotans?
- What: Learn about the recent ICE arrests of Somali community members and the new community task force responding to immigration enforcement.
- Who: Minnesota Senator Zaynab Mohamed
- Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
- Time: 1-2 p.m. CDT
- Where: Live on Sahan Journal’s Instagram
- Cost: Free
About the speaker
- Senator Zaynab Mohamed is an organizer, immigrant, and State Senator from South Minneapolis. When she was nine years old, Zaynab and her family immigrated to Minnesota from Somalia. She grew up in a working-class household with nine brothers and sisters. In 2022, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Minnesota Senate, and the first Muslim woman in Minnesota’s upper chamber.
