Minneapolis, MN (Kaab TV) — The arrest of prominent Somali-American community advocate Omar Jamal by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sent shockwaves through Minnesota’s Somali community, the largest in the country.
ICE officials confirmed Jamal’s arrest in Minneapolis last Friday.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged Jamal has a criminal history that includes assault, fraud, and violating a restraining order.
He is currently being held at the Freeborn County Jail in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Community members, however, say Jamal’s detention has fueled fear and uncertainty among Somali immigrants, many of whom worry they may be next.
Jamal has been a visible figure in Minnesota for decades, serving as a liaison between Somali-Americans and law enforcement.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office praised his work, noting he played “an integral role in helping us build trust with the Somali community.”
His attorney, Abdiqani Jabane, told Fox9 news channel that Jamal’s long service to the community.
“Mr. Jamal has devoted decades to strengthening trust between law enforcement and the Somali-American community. We will pursue all legal remedies to protect his rights and secure his release,” Jabane said.
Jamal’s immigration status has been under scrutiny for years.
He was issued a final deportation order in 2011, though Somalia has not accepted deportees due to ongoing instability.
Despite this, the Trump administration has pushed new agreements with African nations, such as Rwanda, Uganda, and Eswatini, to take in deportees from the U.S.—raising fresh fears in Minnesota’s Somali diaspora.
For many, Jamal’s arrest is seen not just as an individual case but as a warning of broader immigration enforcement actions that could destabilize families and communities.