Go Back Blast Ignites Minnesota Firestorm

A woman in a hijab passionately speaking at a podium during a public event

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told Somali immigrants who refuse to assimilate to “go the hell back to where they came from” — and he said he’s done apologizing for it.

Story Snapshot

Emmer made the remarks at a Faith and Freedom Coalition town hall on Capitol Hill, saying immigrants must embrace American values or leave.
He backed President Trump’s move to end Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota, calling it the right call.
Emmer pushed back hard on racism charges, saying “there is nothing racist about calling out a criminal.”
Critics including Rep. Ilhan Omar fired back on social media, but neither side has offered hard data to settle the underlying debate.

Emmer Drops the Gloves at Capitol Hill Event

U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer spoke at a Faith and Freedom Coalition town hall on Capitol Hill Wednesday evening. He told the crowd he is tired of being labeled a racist or an Islamophobe for speaking plainly about immigration. Emmer said he is “done being careful” and declared that Somali immigrants who refuse to adopt American values “should go the hell back to where they came from.” The remarks drew immediate national attention. ^[1]

Emmer also framed his position in terms of faith and national identity. He told the audience that America was built on Christian values and that those values must be protected. He argued that Minnesota officials looked the other way while some immigrants “don’t want to assimilate” and instead “lie, cheat, and steal” from taxpayers. His office has previously pointed to what it calls roughly $1 billion stolen from Minnesota taxpayers, though no specific audit report or court filing was provided to back that figure at the event. ^[7]

Trump’s TPS Decision Gives Emmer an Opening

Emmer praised President Trump’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Somalis living in Minnesota. Temporary Protected Status is a federal program that shields people from certain countries from deportation when conditions back home are considered unsafe. Emmer said ending the program was the right move and lined up directly with his view that immigrants must earn their place here by joining American civic life, not standing apart from it. ^[3]

This is not a new fight for Minnesota Republicans. The state is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the country. Republicans, including President Trump, have repeatedly raised concerns about whether that community has fully integrated into American life. Critics say those concerns are overblown. Supporters say they reflect real frustrations from everyday Minnesotans who feel their concerns get ignored. ^[2]

Pushback Comes Fast, but Evidence Stays Thin on Both Sides

Rep. Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia and now serves in Congress, shot back quickly on social media. She said she “assimilated all the way to Congress,” directly challenging Emmer’s claim that Somalis don’t integrate. Rep. Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat, called Emmer’s comments racist. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey apologized to a Somali American constituent over the broader political climate surrounding the remarks. ^[9]

🚨 Tom Emmer just said what millions of Americans have been thinking for years:

“I don’t really care where you come from, but if you come to this great country, you have to understand you’re coming here to be an American.”

We celebrate your culture — Italian, Polish, Somali,… pic.twitter.com/hN0eW810eS

— Dr. Dawn Michael (@DawnsMission) June 26, 2026

Here is where both sides run into trouble: neither has put hard numbers on the table. Emmer’s claim that Somalis “lie, cheat, and steal” from taxpayers lacks specific court filings, named cases, or audit data to back it up. On the other side, critics calling the remarks racist have not produced demographic studies showing Somali assimilation rates or economic data proving a net benefit to Minnesota taxpayers. What remains is a loud political fight built largely on assertion rather than evidence. Conservative voters who are tired of being called racists for wanting immigrants to embrace American culture will likely see Emmer as saying what needed to be said. But the strongest version of his argument still needs facts behind it. ^[1] ^[2]