Posted on 01/18/2026 1:00:18 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rows of businesses stood shuttered inside a sprawling complex of Somali businesses on a recent afternoon.
Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis contains more than a hundred small businesses in suites offering everything from clothing and food to insurance and accounting services.
But many sellers sat alone in their clothing stores, waiting for the occasional customer to walk by. Everyone is afraid of federal immigration agents, business owners said. Sellers and customers, citizens and noncitizens. Some don’t bother opening shop because they aren’t expecting any customers.
“It’s been like this for three weeks now,” said Abdi Wahid, who works at his mom’s convenience store in the mall. “Everywhere it’s all been closed up, all the stores.”
Karmel Mall is an economic hub for the area’s Somali population, which is the largest in the U.S. But it also features housing, a mosque and Quran classes, serving as a robust community center for the area.
The economic impact of the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” stretches beyond the Somali community: many immigrants are on edge, afraid to go to work or leave their homes amid the immigration crackdown.
Wahid said early afternoons at the family business once meant 15 to 20 customers. These days, it’s tough to get one.
Ibrahim Dahiye, who sells electronics, said winter always used to be slow, “but now it’s totally different. No one comes here. All the stores are closed, few are open.”
“I don’t know what we can do,” Dahiye said. “We believe in Allah, but we can’t do anything.”
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Go ahead Bashir. Be a man, take your chances
If everyone is here legally why would they be afraid?
And how many businesses can this district sustain? How many clothing stores do they need or can survive?
I suspect the only reason this group appears to be thriving is not because of their industriousness but because they are all being funded with government money.
Any Somali "business" that is struggling during the fraud crackdown is by definition a fraud or fraud dependent grift. Send every Somali back to the criminal run and criminal populated sh!thole they came from.
Any business that is hurt by ICE is by definition run by or dependent on illegals who in turn are dependent on welfare that they have no right to or outright theft of government (ie. taxpayer) funds. Send them back or send them to jail and THEN send them back.
This is merciful if they hide behind "Persecution because we're Muslims" then use Sharia law for the thieves and cut off their hands. (and then send them back)
Agree about the skin color of the protestors. There are, of course, the 20 something’s but a great deal are the grey hair ELCA types.
Trying to find a downside here. If Somali-owned business are having a rough time of it, perhaps they’ll find more opportunities in Somalia. They know the language, they are obviously entrepreneurs, just the kind of skills a developing country needs. They can help to Make Somali Great (for the first time).
Has the MN media done any interviews with parents who are distraught because their Somalian-owned daycare has closed down? You would think there would be parents lined up to complain about the sudden closing of the “learing” center in their area.
Why is this any different from when the businesses were 'open'.
AP
ALL PROPAGANDA
“I don’t know what we can do,” Dahiye said.
Call up some of your buddies back in your fatherland and tell them to ship back a couple hundred million bucks. That should hold you for a while.
If you are here legally, you have nothing to worry about. These liberal sob stories really tick me off because they omit that crucial fact.
Maybe they would do Better Business in Somalia.
Everyone of them is a scam of one sort or another.
Yep
Allah dont have much power if he cant help the ones who bow to him five times a day.
The taxpayers free money spigot has been cut off which has Somaliland feeling the pressure.
This disgusting BS, just BULL Crap from the garbage at
ASSOCIATED PRESS...
It’s a shame they are STILL around.
Had to lookup ELCA. Seems very plausible..
“”””Maybe they would do Better Business in Somalia.”””
OR Maybe they would BUILD BACK BETTER in Somalia.
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