LeadMN & Students United Statement on Federal Targeting of Somali Minnesotans

Recent xenophobic language and federal immigration enforcement actions targeting the

Somali community in Minnesota are causing fear and anxiety for many within our communities. As the statewide student organizations for the 33 Colleges and Universities in the Minnesota State System, LeadMN and Students United recognize that our Somali students are experiencing that same unease and uncertainty. We denounce this harmful, destabilizing rhetoric and reaffirm our strong and steadfast support for Somali students, faculty, and staff who are valued and vital members of our campuses and the communities across the state they are a part of.  

Somali immigrant and immigrant-origin students enrich our campuses and communities, obtaining degrees in high-demand fields like healthcare, information technology, law enforcement, HVAC and software development, strengthening the Minnesota workforce economy. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, and Somali Minnesotans are not only an integral part of our state’s economy but also our civic and cultural fabric. 

LeadMN and Students United are committed to supporting every student’s safety and well-being as they travel to and from class, study, and participate in campus life, regardless of their identity. We are dedicated to ensuring inclusive spaces for all students to learn and thrive as they pursue their education at our state’s public colleges and universities. We stand with our Somali, East African, Latine, and with all immigrant-origin students.