- “Brothers, behold it, the white land of the North, snow everywhere! This is Minas Somalia. Three centuries ago, it was promised to us!” says a man in a 20-second skit that has gone viral.
- The clip alludes to the ongoing immigration crisis in Minnesota, where federal authorities have intensified crackdowns within local immigrant communities.
- Somali Minnesotans have turned to social media, using satire and coordinated trolling to push back against what they view as hostile rhetoric and heavy-handed government policies.
Somali “Christopher Columbus” Arrives in Minnesota, Renames it “Minas Somalia”
A hilarious skit about Minnesota’s Somali community is going viral, parodying Christopher Columbus, the legendary explorer and navigator who used to discover territories for fun during his heyday.
Using artificial intelligence, crafty social media users have created their own version of Columbus, one with a heavy Mogadishu accent wandering around in the winter snow looking for some promised land.
The dramatic viral clip shows the Somali explorers carrying the Somali flag, declaring the state of Minnesota as “Minas Somalia”.
The video has gained attention following recent tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Somali community.
Somalian Companies Accused of Ripping Off American Taxpayers
Minnesota has come under intense scrutiny following reports of serious fraud involving elements of the state’s Somali immigrant community.
Authorities say that over $1 billion may have been lost to dubious companies and nonprofit programs claiming to feed children and assist the homeless.
86 individuals, mostly from Minnesota’s Somali community, have already been arrested in connection with what authorities are calling the largest theft of taxpayers’ money in U.S. history.
The suspects are accused of billing the state for social services that were never provided.
Some of the funds were reportedly funneled into massive real estate investments in Kenya and other countries, including Turkey, raising concerns about possible money-laundering activity.
Senator John Kennedy addressed the US Congress on the scandal, saying, “For the last five years, there has been massive welfare fraud in the great state of Minnesota. They can call it fraud, but a better term would be stealing. And this fraud has been centered around the Somali community in Minnesota.”
Trump Administration Zeros in on Somali Immigrants in Minnesota
The Trump administration, which ran on a platform of cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, has moved to address the alleged misappropriation of public funds in Minnesota.
Responding to the developments, Trump did not mince words, describing Minnesota as a hub of fraudulent money-laundering operations.
The hardline administration began by ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which for decades had provided legal protection to Somalians fleeing civil war.
Other TPS beneficiaries included immigrants from war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and regions affected by natural disasters.
The revocation was followed by a major deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at removing undocumented immigrants in the area.
Enforcement efforts have intensified in neighborhoods like St. Paul in Minneapolis, which are known for their high concentrations of immigrant communities.
Somalis, however, remain defiant, insisting that they have a stake in the United States and Minnesota in particular.
Various social media accounts have gained notoriety, with some humorously claiming they are ready to “negotiate a two-state solution” in Minnesota.
