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Somali Americans
Somali Americans are Americans of Somali ancestry. The first ethnic Somalis to arrive in the United States were sailors who came in the 1920s from British Somaliland. They were followed by students pursuing higher studies in the 1960s and 1970s. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s and early 1990s, more Somalis arrived.
In the mid and late 1990s, the largest number of Somalis arrived, after civil war in Somalia. The Somali community in the US is now among the largest in the Somali diaspora.
The first Somalis in the United States were a small group of sailors who settled in New York City in the 1920s. Eventually acquiring American citizenship, they actively participated in the Somali independence movement and served as key liaisons whenever Somali political figures visited the UN headquarters.[citation needed] For their substantial contributions to Somali society, these early Somali expatriates were rewarded with medals by the Somali government and some were also issued land back home.[citation needed]
Following Somali independence in 1960, Somali students began arriving in the US to pursue higher studies while living with relatives or on scholarships. Many of the young returned to Somalia after graduation and played an important role in the development of Somalia. In the 1980s, a small number of Somalis settled in the United States. They were later joined by many other ethnic Somalis from different backgrounds, who sought asylum in the US after the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia, or emigrated from other parts of Greater Somalia.
A large number of the Somali immigrants settled in Minnesota, which by 2002 harbored the largest population of Somalis in North America. Many of the newer arrivals came through voluntary agencies (VOLAGS) contracted with the State Department, who helped them settle in. In 2006, Somalis in the state accounted for $164–$394 million in purchasing power and owned 600 businesses. The city of Minneapolis in particular hosts hundreds of Somali-owned and operated commercial ventures. In 2015, there were 57,000 residents in Minnesota of Somali ancestry, among whom 31,400 were born in Somalia.
Somalis in the United States often send resources to their extended families abroad, remittances that were facilitated by the signing of the 2014 Money Remittances Improvement Act. In 2012, following a greatly improved security situation in Somalia, many Somali US residents began returning to Mogadishu and other parts of the country. A few of the homeward-bound immigrants along with some American-born associates have been sought and/or prosecuted for allegedly providing material support to the Al-Shabaab and Islamic State political militant groups. However, according to intelligence officials, fewer expatriates were joining the groups' ranks by late 2013.
Most of the returnees have instead repatriated for investment opportunities and to take part in the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process in Somalia. Participating in the renovation of schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure, they have played a leading role in Mogadishu's recovery and have helped propel the local real estate market.
Since 2022, the Somali American community in Minnesota has been at the center of several high-profile federal fraud investigations. The most significant was the Feeding Our Future scandal, described by the Department of Justice as the largest pandemic-related fraud scheme in the U.S. Federal prosecutors alleged that a network of individuals, many of Somali descent, defrauded the government of approximately $250 million intended for child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of early 2026, dozens of individuals have been convicted or pleaded guilty, with some receiving sentences of up to 12 years.
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Somali Americans
Somali Americans are Americans of Somali ancestry. The first ethnic Somalis to arrive in the United States were sailors who came in the 1920s from British Somaliland. They were followed by students pursuing higher studies in the 1960s and 1970s. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s and early 1990s, more Somalis arrived.
In the mid and late 1990s, the largest number of Somalis arrived, after civil war in Somalia. The Somali community in the US is now among the largest in the Somali diaspora.
The first Somalis in the United States were a small group of sailors who settled in New York City in the 1920s. Eventually acquiring American citizenship, they actively participated in the Somali independence movement and served as key liaisons whenever Somali political figures visited the UN headquarters.[citation needed] For their substantial contributions to Somali society, these early Somali expatriates were rewarded with medals by the Somali government and some were also issued land back home.[citation needed]
Following Somali independence in 1960, Somali students began arriving in the US to pursue higher studies while living with relatives or on scholarships. Many of the young returned to Somalia after graduation and played an important role in the development of Somalia. In the 1980s, a small number of Somalis settled in the United States. They were later joined by many other ethnic Somalis from different backgrounds, who sought asylum in the US after the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia, or emigrated from other parts of Greater Somalia.
A large number of the Somali immigrants settled in Minnesota, which by 2002 harbored the largest population of Somalis in North America. Many of the newer arrivals came through voluntary agencies (VOLAGS) contracted with the State Department, who helped them settle in. In 2006, Somalis in the state accounted for $164–$394 million in purchasing power and owned 600 businesses. The city of Minneapolis in particular hosts hundreds of Somali-owned and operated commercial ventures. In 2015, there were 57,000 residents in Minnesota of Somali ancestry, among whom 31,400 were born in Somalia.
Somalis in the United States often send resources to their extended families abroad, remittances that were facilitated by the signing of the 2014 Money Remittances Improvement Act. In 2012, following a greatly improved security situation in Somalia, many Somali US residents began returning to Mogadishu and other parts of the country. A few of the homeward-bound immigrants along with some American-born associates have been sought and/or prosecuted for allegedly providing material support to the Al-Shabaab and Islamic State political militant groups. However, according to intelligence officials, fewer expatriates were joining the groups' ranks by late 2013.
Most of the returnees have instead repatriated for investment opportunities and to take part in the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process in Somalia. Participating in the renovation of schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure, they have played a leading role in Mogadishu's recovery and have helped propel the local real estate market.
Since 2022, the Somali American community in Minnesota has been at the center of several high-profile federal fraud investigations. The most significant was the Feeding Our Future scandal, described by the Department of Justice as the largest pandemic-related fraud scheme in the U.S. Federal prosecutors alleged that a network of individuals, many of Somali descent, defrauded the government of approximately $250 million intended for child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of early 2026, dozens of individuals have been convicted or pleaded guilty, with some receiving sentences of up to 12 years.
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