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Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

Did Rep. Tom Emmer once say Somalis were among the fastest-assimilating immigrant groups?

Brian Arola, MinnPost
yes

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer said Somalis are “some of the fastest-assimilating populations” during a 2015 town hall meeting in St. Cloud.

The Minnesota Republican’s comment came in response to a question about assimilation, according to audio aired during an episode of This American Life. The congressman likened the Somali experience to that of German, Polish and Chinese immigrants.

That same year, Emmer founded the Congressional Somalia Caucus with Keith Ellison, at the time a Democratic U.S. representative from Minnesota. (He is now the state’s attorney general). A press release on the initiative is no longer on Emmer’s website but is archived online. 

Earlier this month, the House Majority Whip falsely accused Somalis of committing 80% of the crimes in the Twin Cities and Minnesota during an appearance on Fox Business. The appearance came as the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement against Twin Cities Somalis. 

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