Somali businesses in Minneapolis decline due to fear from Trump-era immigration raids and racial profiling fears.

Somali-owned businesses in Minneapolis’ Karmel Mall are seeing a sharp decline in activity due to fear sparked by a federal immigration crackdown tied to the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge.” Many stores are shuttered or operating at reduced capacity, with business owners and U.S. citizens alike avoiding the area over concerns of raids and racial profiling. Sales have plummeted, with some owners reporting monthly losses of up to $20,000, while employees and customers cancel trips and appointments out of fear of deportation or being denied re-entry. The situation intensified after an ICE raid at Roosevelt High School and the administration’s public criticism of the Somali community following a fraud case. Though officials say enforcement is based on reasonable suspicion and not race, many residents feel unfairly targeted, leading to widespread anxiety and economic hardship that extends beyond the Somali population.