Republican Rep. Tom Emmer urges Somali immigrants to leave

A senior Republican congressman has drawn widespread condemnation after making inflammatory remarks about Somali immigrants, declaring they do not assimilate and should leave the United States. Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House Majority Whip, made the comments on Thursday, June 25, during an event hosted by the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

Emmer told the audience that he was finished being careful about how he discusses the topic. "Minnesotans are so afraid that you're gonna call us a racist, you're gonna call us an Islamophobe," he said. "I'm done being even the least bit careful." He stated that while he celebrates various immigrant cultures, Somalis "don't assimilate." He concluded, "And if they don't assimilate, then they should go the hell back to where they came from."

The remarks, captured on video, quickly circulated online, sparking intense backlash from constituents, political opponents, and commentators who accused Emmer of embracing racist rhetoric. Many social media users argued his statements were contrary to Minnesota's values of inclusion. Some critics turned his own language against him, noting Emmer was born in Indiana and questioning his...