Minnesotans reportedly warned Rep. Tom Emmer more than a decade ago about concerns tied to the rapid resettlement of Somali refugees, but the Republican lawmaker dismissed those worries at the time, according to a resurfaced audio clip that has gained new attention amid a fresh wave of controversy in the state.
The debate has returned to the spotlight after YouTuber Nick Shirley released a viral video canvassing multiple Somali-run childcare centers accused of fraud. But long before those allegations emerged, voters were already voicing fears about immigration, assimilation, and economic strain.
In an October 2016 episode of “This American Life,” journalist Zoe Chace revisited a July 2015 town hall event held at Aces Bar in downtown St. Cloud. The venue was packed, and one constituent told Emmer that many attendees wanted to know how the congressman felt about the assimilation of immigrants. In an audio clip played during the segment, the man said residents had not been consulted about the arrival of Somali refugees and accused social service organizations of “dumping them” into communities like St. Cloud.
“How many more are coming?” the man asked, adding that local residents had no control over immigration decisions and that the issue had become central to the city’s concerns.
Census data from the 2024 American Community Survey show that roughly 107,000 people of Somali descent live in Minnesota. About 58 percent were born in the United States, and 87 percent of foreign-born Somalis in the state are naturalized citizens. Minneapolis has the largest Somali population, followed by Hennepin County, according to KTTC.
The issue has taken on new urgency after CBS News reported in December that an estimated $9 billion or more in fraud had occurred across 14 Medicaid services in Minnesota. More than 90 percent of those charged in the case were of Somali descent, intensifying scrutiny of state oversight and accountability.
At the 2015 town hall, Emmer pushed back sharply against the concerns raised, with Chace describing him as firing a “warning shot” at what he viewed as implicit racism. Emmer argued that Somalis were among the fastest-assimilating populations, prompting audible groans from the audience.
A Somali man in attendance eventually spoke up, saying he felt assimilated and encouraging residents to meet with him to address their fears. But tensions remained high as constituents pressed Emmer to demand a vote or pause on refugee resettlement. One woman, identified as Sue, said the influx had placed a “huge economic burden” on the city and argued St. Cloud needed a breather.
Emmer repeatedly asked what she wanted him to do and challenged her suggestion of a temporary moratorium, ultimately saying such a move was not possible under the Constitution.
In response to a request for comment, Emmer criticized years of failed immigration policies and said he now stands with President Trump to hold criminals accountable. “Americans will no longer be taken advantage of by illegals gaming taxpayer-funded programs,” Emmer said, adding he is proud to work with President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel.
After Shirley’s video reignited scrutiny, Emmer accused Gov. Tim Walz of allowing fraud to fester, saying billions were stolen while the administration stood by. He also blasted Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison for failing to act over seven years.
Notably, days before the 2015 town hall, Emmer joined Ellison in launching the Congressional Somalia Caucus, calling Somalia a matter of domestic policy and national security. The bar where the town hall was held has since closed and may be converted into a daycare center, a development that has only added irony to a debate now roaring back to life.
