Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) told Somalis who do not assimilate to “go the hell back to where they came from” during a recent event [1].
The remarks highlight deep political divisions regarding immigration and the cultural integration of refugee communities within the U.S. political landscape.
Emmer spoke at a Faith & Freedom Coalition town-hall on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. [2]. During the event, which took place on June 25, 2024 [3], the House Majority Whip said that some Somali immigrants do not assimilate into American society and suggested they should leave the country [1].
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) responded to the comments on the social media platform X. Omar called Emmer an “idiot” in her post [4]. She further said that she has “assimilated all the way to Congress” [5].
Emmer's comments focused on the necessity of assimilation for immigrants [1]. The exchange between the two Minnesota representatives reflects a broader national debate over the expectations placed on immigrant populations, and the definition of American identity.
Omar's response emphasizes her own trajectory from a refugee to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as a counter-argument to Emmer's claims [5]. The incident has drawn condemnation from critics who view the language as targeting a specific ethnic group [6].
“"Somalis who don't assimilate should go the hell back to where they came from."”
This confrontation underscores the intensifying rhetoric surrounding immigration and national identity in the U.S. By specifically targeting the Somali community—one of the largest refugee groups in Minnesota—the dispute transforms a policy debate over assimilation into a personal and ethnic clash between two high-profile representatives from the same state.
