First Somali-American Elected to U.S. Congress

CBS Minnesota posted on 7 November 2018 a story titled "Ilhan Omar, The 1st Somali-American Elected To Congress, Seeks To Make U.S. More Welcoming."

The U.S. Congress will receive in January 2019 the first ever Somali-American, Ilhan Omar, elected to that body. Ilhan Omar will represent the 5th District of Minnesota, which spans Minneapolis and suburbs.

Three Somali-Americans Found Guilty of Tryng to Join IS

The New York Times published an article on 3 June 2016 titled "3 Somali-Americans Found Guilty of Trying to Join Islamic State" by Jack Healy and Matt Furber.

The convictions capped an investigation that began in 2014 and led to six other young men pleading guilty to terrorism charges. Unlike earlier cases where a small number of Somali-Americans joined al-Shabaab, these young men tried to join the Islamic State.

Somali Community in Minnesota: Jihadi Issues Persist

The Economist published on 21 May 2016 an article titled "Homegrown Jihad: Minnesota Martyrs." It reports a continuing problem concerning a small number of Somalis living in the state of Minnesota who are attracted to jihad in the Islamic State in Syria.

South Sudanese Diaspora in US

The Juba-based Sudd Institute published on 23 June 2015 an analysis titled "South Sudanese in Utah Are a Sign of Hope and Peace in South Sudan" by Augustino Ting Mayai.  For whatever reasons, the Dinka and Nuer diasporas in the state of Utah seem to be interacting more amicably than their counterparts in Iowa and Minnesota. 

Somali Diaspora in Minnesota

The Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota published in December 2014 a policy report titled "The Somali Diaspora in the Twin Cities: Engagement and Implications for Return" by Ryan Allen, Carissa Slotterback, Kadra Abdi, and Ahmed Muhumud. 

Somalis living in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, are returning to Somalia with greater frequency.  Because of the fragile nature of the situation in Somalia, the visits tend to be temporary.  The limited social infrastructure such as health care helps to explain their reluctance to return permanently. 

Somali-American Candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives

The Associated Press ran on 3 August 2014 a story titled "Somali Candidate Eyes Milestone in US Race" by Kyle Potter.  It concerns the candidacy of Mohamud Noor, a Somali-American, who is running in the Democratic primary race in Minneapolis for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  He is running against the incumbent.  This district is heavily Democratic; the winner of the primary will likely win the seat in the House of Representatives.  Should Noor win, he would be the first Somali-American to hold a seat in a state legislature in the United States.  Minneapolis is home to the largest Somali community in the United States.